In the sunlit principality of Monaco, where the clay courts of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters gleam with prestige, Carlos Alcaraz has staged a triumphant resurgence. On April 12, 2025, the 21-year-old Spaniard secured his place in the tournament’s final, defeating compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(2), 6-4 in a gripping semifinal. This milestone—his first ATP Masters 1000 final in 13 months—marked a dramatic turnaround from a rocky start to the season, and Alcaraz didn’t shy away from sharing the mindset that fueled his revival. “It’s been a long time,” he said, reflecting on the wait since his last Masters final at Indian Wells in 2024. “I just had to be patient and believe that this moment was going to come again.”
Alcaraz’s journey to the Monte-Carlo final wasn’t paved with ease. After a promising start to 2025, including a title in Rotterdam and an Australian Open quarterfinal run, his form faltered. A semifinal loss to Jack Draper at Indian Wells and a stunning first-round exit to David Goffin in Miami left him reeling. “How do I feel? Dreadful,” he admitted after Miami, a rare moment of self-doubt for a player known for his unshakable confidence. The pressure to reclaim the World No. 1 spot from Jannik Sinner, sidelined by a doping suspension, weighed heavily. “A lot of people are telling me I have the chance to become No. 1,” he confessed, revealing how that expectation “killed me in some way.” In Monte-Carlo, however, Alcaraz found clarity by refocusing on his own game, a shift that propelled him past tough opponents like Francisco Cerundolo, Daniel Altmaier, and Arthur Fils.
His semifinal clash with Davidovich Fokina showcased the resilience that defines him. The first set was a scrappy affair, with both players trading errors, but Alcaraz’s clutch play in the tiebreak—highlighted by a blistering forehand winner—gave him the edge. In the second set, he faced six match points, fending off Davidovich Fokina’s dogged defense with pinpoint aggression. “I think I played really good tennis from the beginning until the last point,” he said, crediting his ability to seize key moments. “I tried to take the chances he gave me in the match.” The victory, sealed after nearly two hours, marked his third straight-sets win over his friend, whom he playfully noted had invited him to his wedding. “It’s not easy playing against a friend, but this is tennis,” he added with a smile.
Alcaraz’s turnaround stems from a deliberate mental reset. After Miami, he sat down to reassess, realizing he’d been fixated on rankings rather than process. “I’m not obsessed with being the best in the world,” he insisted, emphasizing a focus on enjoyment and growth. Clay, his favorite surface, helped reignite his spark. “I have missed clay,” he said, praising the surface’s forgiving nature for his signature drop shots, which he wielded with confidence in Monaco. His 15-1 clay record since winning Roland Garros in 2024—his only loss a Paris Olympic final to Novak Djokovic—underscores his dominance. In Monte-Carlo, where he’d never won a match before this year, he’s now chasing a sixth Masters 1000 title against Lorenzo Musetti, a formidable Italian who bested him in their 2022 Hamburg final.
The stakes are high. A victory would vault Alcaraz past Alexander Zverev to World No. 2 and cement his clay-season momentum heading into Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros. “I am really happy with the way I am playing,” he said before the tournament, dismissing critics who fixate on his losses. His 18-4 record this season, bolstered by Rotterdam’s trophy, reflects a player maturing under pressure. Off the court, his foundation’s work aiding Valencia flood victims shows a grounded champion balancing fame with purpose.
For Alcaraz, Monte-Carlo is a testament to patience and adaptability. “Real champions find the right level when it’s needed,” he said after edging Fils in a three-set thriller, a mantra that carried him to the final. As he prepares to face Musetti, whose flair and one-handed backhand promise a stylistic showdown, Alcaraz carries not just Spain’s hopes but the weight of his own expectations. Win or lose, his resurgence in Monaco proves one thing: the kid from Murcia isn’t just back—he’s ready to soar.