On a sun-drenched afternoon in Monte Carlo, Carlos Alcaraz stood on the cusp of glory, having battled his way into the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters final with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The 21-year-old Spaniard’s journey to his first Masters 1000 final in over a year was not just a testament to his blistering forehands and relentless spirit but also a moment of raw introspection about the weight of expectation he’s carried in the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. With the clay courts of Monaco as his stage, Alcaraz opened up about the pressure that has both driven and haunted him, offering a glimpse into the mind of a champion navigating a pivotal season.
Alcaraz’s semifinal clash was a gritty affair, lasting over two hours and testing every facet of his game. Davidovich Fokina, known for his tenacious defense, pushed Alcaraz to the brink, saving five match points and forcing the second seed to dig deep. The first set alone stretched beyond an hour, with Alcaraz squandering three set points before dominating the tiebreak. In the second, his serve found another gear, fending off break points to seal the win with a thunderous 107 mph forehand winner that left the crowd roaring. “If you want something, you have to go for it!” Alcaraz later declared, reflecting the fearless mentality that propelled him to his 23rd tour-level final.
Yet, beneath the triumph, Alcaraz carried a burden that has shadowed him for weeks. With Sinner sidelined by a doping ban until May 4, the tennis world turned its gaze to Alcaraz, expecting the four-time Grand Slam champion to seize the top ranking. The pressure, he admitted, was suffocating at times. “A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become No. 1 if Jannik isn’t playing,” he confessed post-match. “So probably that pressure had killed me in some way.” His candor revealed a young star grappling with external demands while striving to stay true to his craft.
The absence of Sinner, coupled with early exits from top seeds like Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic, thrust Alcaraz into the role of tournament favorite. Yet, he’s refused to let rankings define him. “I’m just thinking that I’m not able to become No. 1 in the clay season, even if Jannik is not playing,” he said, acknowledging the 3,610-point gap as insurmountable for now. Instead, Alcaraz has recalibrated, focusing on the joy of competition. His journey through Monte Carlo—dispatching Francisco Cerundolo, Daniel Altmaier, and Arthur Fils before outlasting Davidovich Fokina—shows a player rediscovering his rhythm on the red dirt he loves. “I miss clay,” he’d said earlier in the tournament, a smile breaking through. “It’s a weapon that I use a lot.”
Awaiting him in the final is Lorenzo Musetti, a stylish Italian whose flair promises a captivating showdown. A victory would mark Alcaraz’s sixth Masters 1000 title and vault him to world No. 2, a significant leap in a season where his only prior trophy came in Rotterdam. More than that, it would be a statement of intent as he defends his French Open crown next month. “I realize that I don’t have to think about it and just go there and play,” Alcaraz emphasized, a mantra that’s freed him to unleash the explosive tennis that’s thrilled fans worldwide.
For Alcaraz, Monte Carlo is both a milestone and a mirror. The pressure to eclipse Sinner may have “killed” him at times, but it’s also forged a wiser, hungrier competitor. As he prepares to face Musetti under the Mediterranean sun, the Spaniard carries not just the hopes of a nation but the clarity of a player who knows his worth lies in the fight, not the crown. With every swing, he’s writing a story of resilience—one that’s far from finished.