Carlos Alcaraz reaches Monte Carlo Masters final after beating Davidovich Fokina

Alcaraz eyes first clay court Masters title since 2024 French Open in Monte Carlo final.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his semifinal match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina during day seven of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2025, in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Carlos Alcaraz reaches Monte Carlo Masters final after defeating fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a commanding 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory on Saturday. The win sends the 21-year-old into the championship match of the ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time, boosting his momentum as he looks for his first Masters title on clay since the 2024 French Open.

With the sun shining on the red clay of Monte Carlo, Alcaraz controlled the semifinal encounter from the start, although he was tested by the resilient Davidovich Fokina. The first set was closely contested, with both players exchanging breaks before it went to a tiebreak. There, Alcaraz raised his level, storming through to take it 7-2. In the second set, he gained an early break and held his nerve to close out the match, though not without drama. Davidovich Fokina saved 13 break points and four match points, refusing to go down easily.

Alcaraz breaks through in Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo Masters has not been kind to Alcaraz in previous attempts. He had only played the event once before, in 2022, where he suffered a surprise early exit. But this year has been different. Coming in as one of the main contenders, especially after the withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and early exits of top names like Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz found himself under the spotlight.

"I knew how well Davidovich Fokina had played in Monte Carlo so I had to be ready to fight," said Alcaraz after the match. "It's been a long time since I've had the chance to win a title on clay and I can't wait to try my luck again here."

That hunger was evident in his performance. Despite missing titles at recent big tournaments, including a loss to Novak Djokovic in the Olympic final, Alcaraz has remained focused on the transition to clay. "At the beginning of the week, the first tournament on clay, you have to get used to the conditions," he explained. "The ball comes different. The play on clay is different."

First clay title since 2024 French Open in sight

Alcaraz's last Masters 1000 title came at Indian Wells in 2024, but his last clay triumph at this level dates back to the French Open of the same year. For a player hailed as the next big thing in men's tennis, the Monte Carlo final offers a key chance to reassert his dominance on his preferred surface.

"The level that I reached at the beginning of the week—I’m just really happy to get there again," he added. Despite only winning one title so far in 2025, the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, Alcaraz has made deep runs in several tournaments and looks sharp as the European clay season gets underway.

His form in Monte Carlo has been especially impressive, navigating a draw disrupted by early upsets. The absence of world number one Jannik Sinner due to a doping ban has further shifted the focus onto Alcaraz, who acknowledged the pressure that comes with that spotlight.

"A lot of people were asking me about the importance of this moment, about becoming number one again or winning big tournaments. I was thinking too much about it instead of just enjoying the tennis," Alcaraz admitted. “Now I just want to play my game and enjoy every match.”

Facing De Minaur or Musetti in the final

Alcaraz will face either Australia's Alex de Minaur or Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Sunday’s final. Both players have performed strongly in Monte Carlo, but neither carries the same weight of expectation or clay court pedigree that Alcaraz does. Still, Alcaraz is not taking anything for granted.

"Finals are always tough, no matter who you're playing," he said. "They’ve both played great tennis this week. I just have to stay focused and keep playing my best."

The semifinal win also marks Alcaraz’s continued dominance over Davidovich Fokina. The two had met previously on clay in Barcelona two years ago, a match Alcaraz also won. Saturday’s rematch was harder fought, but the outcome remained the same.

Davidovich Fokina, ranked 42 in the world and a Monte Carlo finalist in 2022, showed flashes of brilliance throughout the match. He broke back in the first set to level things at 5-5 and pushed Alcaraz to a tiebreak. In the second set, despite being broken early, he kept the pressure on, saving break points and forcing Alcaraz to fight for every game.

Eyes on the prize as Alcaraz leads Spain's new tennis generation

With Rafael Nadal struggling with injuries and aging out of his prime, Spanish tennis fans are looking toward Alcaraz as the new torchbearer. His grit on clay, combined with explosive shot-making and mental toughness, recalls Nadal’s dominance at his peak.

The Monte Carlo Masters title would not only give Alcaraz another career milestone, but it could also re-establish his position as the heir to clay court greatness in the post-Nadal era. He is already a four-time Grand Slam champion, but consistency on clay remains one of the last frontiers for him to conquer in 2025.

Having reached the final without dropping a set, Alcaraz is the clear favourite to lift the trophy. His route to the final, along with the absence of Sinner and Djokovic, sets the stage for a much-needed title run as the Roland-Garros build-up continues.

Carlos Alcaraz reaches Monte Carlo Masters final with purpose, poise, and renewed hunger for clay court success. His triumph over Davidovich Fokina shows not only his physical dominance but his ability to manage pressure and expectations. With Sunday’s final on the horizon, Alcaraz will look to convert this strong week into a defining moment of his 2025 season.

Whether he faces Alex de Minaur or Lorenzo Musetti, the title is his to lose. And if he lifts the trophy, it could mark the beginning of another reign of clay for Spain’s new star.