MONTE CARLO - Following a two-year hiatus, Carlos Alcaraz’s return to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters sees him advancing to a maiden final in The Principality, moving within one match of claiming his biggest title on clay since lifting La Coupe des Mousquetaires in Roland-Garros and becoming a silver medalist at the Paris Olympics last season.
Contesting his 10th Masters 1000 semifinal on tour, world number three Carlos Alcaraz hit Court Rainier III to face countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for the second time at tour-level in an all-Spanish match-up on Saturday.
The second seed battled through a mammoth two-hour, 9-minute contest to overcome the 2022 runner-up 7-6(2), 6-4, booking his spot at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters championship match on a cloudy afternoon.
Speaking about his return to a Masters 1000 final, Alcaraz outlined: “I just had to be patient and believe that this moment was going to come again.
“Sometimes the people are not patient; they want me to make the final in every tournament. I’m really happy to give them the chance to watch one of my finals again.”
The young Spanish player showcased his best performance all week, going from strength to strength, unleashing his high-quality forehand in his quest for a sixth Masters 1000 title.
The 17 ATP titlist has progressed into his 23rd tour-level final, the second of the season (champion in Rotterdam), and third on the clay surface at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
He surged to a 3-0 lead in the opening set as his fellow countryman failed to convert three breakpoint chances early in the first game, quickly dropping intensity.
Such opportunities the 21-year-old would not miss, sliding to take the break and hold, extending his lead with confidence, and making a solid start on serve.
Then, the two-time Monte-Carlo semifinalist adjusted his game, finding his rhythm, rallying from a 0-3 deficit to narrow the gap to 2-3.
After breaking straight back, opening the court to finish the points at the net, and firing drop shots with finesse, the relentless four-time major winner held 5-2.
That’s when the 25-year-old born in Mallorca began to recover lost ground, an impressive run to a first-set tiebreak.
Trailing 2-5, Davidovich Fokina fended off two breakpoints in a lengthy eighth game to secure his ground, and when Alcaraz served for the match, he took the break in his third time of asking, earning his way back into the set when tied 5-5.
The all-Spanish opening battle, marked by fine margins, went into a tiebreaker, which Alcaraz dominated, roaring after coming through 7-6(2) in 65 minutes.
A balanced opening set paved the way to a second chapter as tight as the first.
Alcaraz began in the driver’s seat, breaking and holding, stealing a 2-0 lead.
A dramatic 13-minute third game saw the former world number one delivering an erratic showing, missing six break point opportunities.
Meanwhile, the world No. 42 set foot in the set, inching closer to the scoreboard.
He would save four match points and hold, but eventually, Alcaraz took the better of his rival, finishing with a lethal forehand shot 6-4.
Despite his second run to the final being cut short on Saturday, Fokina’s overall performance at the venue will see him return to the Top 30 on Monday for the first time since last May.
En Route to the Final
Alcaraz launched his campaign, beating Francisco Cerundolo, outlasting Daniel Altmaier in his second-rounder.
On Friday, he survived the test posed by 12th seed Arthur Fils, punching his ticket to the semifinals in Monte-Carlo against Davidovich Fokina.
More to follow…
