Carlos Alcaraz makes surprising Jannik Sinner admission after reaching the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters final
Carlos Alcaraz has reached his third Masters 1000 final on clay, and he will look to win his sixth Masters 1000 title.
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Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X)
Jannik Sinner’s absence has been weighing on Carlos Alcaraz in recent weeks. The world No. 1 is currently serving a three-month suspension for a doping violation and is set to return at the Rome Masters. While Sinner isn’t playing, his presence still lingers, adding pressure on Alcaraz to perform and close the ranking gap.
Alcaraz admitted feeling that pressure after reaching the Monte Carlo Masters final for the first time. He said the expectations to win in Sinner’s absence have made things more intense. Despite that, he managed to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(2), 6-4 in a tough semi-final match.
Since Jannik cannot play tournaments, many people have asked me about it and talk about the subject, about how crucial this moment is for me to regain the number one spot or to win tournaments. Probably, in a way, I have thought too much about it instead of playing good tennis and enjoying being on the court and in the matches. After Miami, I realized the path I need to follow, the things I need to do. I don’t have to think about the results or anything else, I just have to have fun.
Carlos Alcaraz said in his press-conference (H/T: Punto de Break)
The first set was a battle, lasting over an hour, with Alcaraz missing three set points before winning the tiebreak. He also needed six match points to finally close out the match. With that win, he has now reached his 23rd tour-level final.
That’s the most important thing for me, and not pay attention to expectations or what people say about you. That’s what I’m trying to do, and I think it’s going well so far. Today has been the best match I’ve played so far in this tournament. I didn’t let him in, dominate, or come back. I showed my good tennis throughout the match.
Carlos Alcaraz added
If Alcaraz wins the final, he will return to the No. 2 spot in the world rankings. He’s already won a title in Rotterdam this year, but a Monte Carlo victory would be a big step in this clay season—and a strong response to the pressure he’s feeling.
Carlos Alcaraz moves into the ascendency in the ATP Race
Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz has taken the lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin after reaching the Monte Carlo final. He has passed Jannik Sinner to move into first place. Alcaraz now has 2,060 points, just 60 more than Sinner. If he wins the final against Lorenzo Musetti, he could increase his lead by another 400 points.
Musetti has made a big jump in the rankings. He is now 13th in the Live Race after reaching his first Masters 1000 final. If he beats Alcaraz, he will move up to seventh. He reached the final by beating Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals.
De Minaur is now sixth in the Live Race. He played in the Nitto ATP Finals last year and hopes to return. He is only 35 points behind Novak Djokovic, who is fifth. With 20 wins this year, De Minaur has the most on tour. Alcaraz could match that number if he wins the final.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is now eighth after a strong run in Monte Carlo. He lost to Alcaraz in the semi-finals but has had a good season so far, reaching two finals. Jakub Mensik is in seventh place, just ahead of him. Other players in the race include Jack Draper, who won Indian Wells, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is now 11th after making the quarter-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz hopes to win a sixth Masters 1000 title
World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz will try to win his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday. He will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the Monte Carlo final. Alcaraz came into the tournament after a surprise early loss to David Goffin in Miami. But he has bounced back with strong wins in Monaco.
The 21-year-old beat Francisco Cerundolo and Daniel Altmaier early on. He then battled past Arthur Fils in a tough three-set match. In the semi-finals, he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach his seventh Masters 1000 final. This is also his first final at this level since Indian Wells last year.
Lorenzo Musetti is playing in his first Masters 1000 final. He has shown great form on clay in the past. He won bronze at the Paris Olympics, beat Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo in 2023, and won the ATP 500 title in Hamburg in 2022. This week, he has been even better.
Musetti beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals and Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals. It’s the first time he has beaten two Top-10 players at one event. If he wins, it will be his third ATP title and his first since 2022. He would also become the third Italian to win a Masters 1000 and break into the Top 10, reaching No. 7 in the rankings.
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