Under the sun-drenched cliffs of Monaco, Carlos Alcaraz cemented his clay-court dominance with a commanding victory over Lorenzo Musetti in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 final, claiming his sixth career Masters 1000 title. The 21-year-old Spaniard, already a four-time Grand Slam champion, battled back from a set down to triumph 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in a match that showcased both his resilience and his ability to seize control against a faltering opponent. For Alcaraz, the win marked his first Monte Carlo crown and a return to the Masters 1000 winner’s circle after a 13-month drought, a milestone he celebrated with a mix of relief and pride.
The final began with Musetti, the 23-year-old Italian making his Masters 1000 final debut, dictating play with a blend of artistry and precision. His one-handed backhand carved angles that left Alcaraz scrambling, and a daring drop shot from behind the baseline sealed the first set 6-3. “I think I played really good tennis from the beginning until the last point,” Alcaraz had said after his semifinal, but early on, it was Musetti who looked sharper, exploiting Alcaraz’s 14 unforced errors—11 from the forehand—to take the lead. The Italian, buoyed by a raucous crowd with strong Italian support, seemed poised to challenge for the biggest title of his career.
Yet Alcaraz, no stranger to adversity, flipped the script in the second set. “It’s been a really difficult week with a lot of difficult situations,” he later reflected, hinting at the mental and physical toll of recent months. His response was emphatic: a roar of “vamos” echoed across Court Rainier III as he broke Musetti’s serve early, his movement sharpening and his forehand finding its mark. The Spaniard’s relentless pace overwhelmed Musetti, who struggled to counter Alcaraz’s newfound aggression. Winning five straight games, Alcaraz leveled the match 6-1, saving five break points in a grueling eight-minute game to force a decider. The crowd, sensing a shift, roared as Alcaraz fed off their energy, his backhand winners drawing gasps.
The third set, however, took a somber turn. Musetti, who had fought through four three-setters to reach the final—including upsets over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur—began to falter physically. A right thigh injury, evident as he flexed his leg in discomfort, sapped his mobility. After falling 3-0 behind, he called for the physio, but the treatment offered little relief. Alcaraz, maintaining focus despite the uneven contest, raced through the set 6-0, sealing victory with a crosscourt forehand after 1 hour and 47 minutes. “It’s not the way I would have wanted to win a match,” Alcaraz said, acknowledging Musetti’s plight. “Thinking about Lorenzo, he has been through a tough week, played long matches. I feel sorry for him.”
For Alcaraz, the triumph was more than a trophy—it was redemption. After a disappointing U.S. swing, including a shock second-round exit in Miami, Monte Carlo offered a chance to reset. His path wasn’t easy: a three-set scare against Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals tested his mettle, while a semifinal win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina demanded patience. “I just had to be patient and believe that this moment was going to come again,” he said, a nod to the pressure he’s faced to dominate every event. The victory vaults him to world No. 2, overtaking Alexander Zverev, and positions him as a favorite to defend his French Open title next month.
Musetti, despite the loss, leaves Monaco with a career-high No. 11 ranking and pride in his clay-court prowess. His bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and past wins over Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo underscore his potential. “At the beginning of the week, I was of course dreaming to be in final,” he said, a sentiment that resonates even in defeat. For Alcaraz, the Monte Carlo crown is a testament to his ability to rise above challenges, both on the court and within himself, as he continues to carve his legacy on the red dirt.