New Delhi: World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz lifted his maiden Monte Carlo title on Sunday, taking advantage of a physically drained Lorenzo Musetti to claim his sixth ATP Masters 1000 crown in a dramatic yet ultimately lopsided 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 win. He will overtake Alexander Zverev when the new rankings come out, back to World No.2.
What started as a gripping contest between two talented youngsters gradually turned into a test of endurance, one that the Italian after an exhausting week failed to pass. The World No. 13 looked sharp early on but as the match progressed, so did the wear and tear of six grueling encounters that saw him contest 17 sets in total.
Musetti have lost all three of his previous encounters against Alcaraz without ever winning more than three games in a single set, so he knew that he had to start strong. Despite being broken in the very first game, the Italian found his rhythm quickly, breaking back in a tense five-deuce battle. What followed was a streak of four consecutive games, with Alcaraz momentarily unraveling under the pressure. Musetti rode that momentum to take the first set 6-3, his first set win over the Sapniard since his Hamburg triumph back in 2022.
Back-to-back Carlos specials 💫@carlosalcaraz #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/MYN9URasxR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 13, 2025
But any hopes of a repeat performance were short-lived as the 2022 US Open champion showcased the kind of resilience that has come to define his young career, reset himself mentally and physically. Alcaraz stormed through the second set, rediscovering his consistency and commanding baseline play. Musetti’s resistance began to crumble as errors crept into his game, and his movement became visibly labored.
Final set drama
The final set was a stark contrast to the first as Musetti was clearly hampered by physical issues, grimacing after points and struggling to chase down even routine balls. He took a medical timeout for his upper right leg after falling behind 0-3, but the damage was already done. By that point, Alcaraz had taken full control, winning point after point with ease as Musetti’s court coverage diminished to a walk.
There was a brief hope that the Italian might retire but he chose to see the match through. Unfortunately, his body gave up but the Italian hold the zeal to fight till very last point. In the final stretch, Alcaraz won 12 of the last 14 points, sealing victory as Musetti stood almost stationary, battling more against his own limitations than the opponent across the net.
The moment @carlosalcaraz won his first-ever #RolexMonteCarloMasters title! 🤩🏆 pic.twitter.com/mfR7uZuEEP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 13, 2025
With this triumph, Alcaraz even became the first Spanish man to win Monte Carlo since Rafa Nadal in 2018. In a sport where brilliance often comes down to who lasts longer, the Spaniard proved once again why he is already a mainstay at the top of the men’s game. For Musetti, the lesson was harsh, but the potential remains immense as his time will surely come.
Carlos Alcaraz clinched his first Monte Carlo Masters title with a comeback win over Lorenzo Musetti. He also became the first Spanish man to win Monte Carlo since Rafael Nadal in 2018. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
