Tennis professional Carlos Alcaraz has won a Masters title in Monte Carlo for the first time since March 2024.
In the final of the sandplane tournament, endowed with 6.8 million euros, the Spaniard defeated the Italian Lorenzo Musetti 3: 6, 6: 1, 6: 0 and thus moves past Alexander Zverev in second place in the world rankings.
The 21-year-old started the game with a break, but was faced with a 1: 4 deficit shortly afterwards. The Italian’s aggressive style of play caused big problems for French Open and Wimbledon winner- after 41 minutes the first set clearly went to Musetti. After the short break, the favorite then had the muscles playing and ensured the set equalization with a 6-1.
Musetti plagued health problems in the decision round. The Italian’s radius of movement was almost no longer existent, the front thigh caused problems.
At 0: 3 he took a medical time that apparently did not help. As a result, he let the other three games endure. After 1:47 hours, Alcaraz celebrated the victory.
“This is not the way I wanted to win a match. Hopefully it is nothing serious at Lorenzo,” said Alcaraz: “But I am very happy to have won in Monte Carlo for the first time. It was a complicated week with some difficult situations. I am glad that work has paid off.”
Despite the defeat, Musetti also climbs in the world rankings. Thanks to his first final participation in a Masters tournament, he improves in eleventh place and can therefore look forward to the best placement of his career.
Germany’s number one Zverev failed in his adopted home at his opening hurdle. The Australian Open finalist in Munich will take a new attempt next week.