‘Not How I Envisioned Victory’: Carlos Alcaraz Triumphs Over Injured Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo Final

Carlos Alcaraz has emerged victorious against Lorenzo Musetti, winning the Monte Carlo Masters with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, marking his 18th victory on the ATP tour.

While Alcaraz has now captured six Masters 1000 titles throughout his career, this is his inaugural triumph at the prestigious Monte Carlo event.

This victory elevates the 21-year-old Spaniard to No. 2 in the ATP rankings, trailing only the currently suspended Jannik Sinner.

Musetti appeared to be struggling with his left leg and sought medical attention during the third set, indicating potential issues with a lower-body injury.

This match marked the Italian’s first foray into a Masters 1000 final, but by the end, he found it difficult to keep pace with the resurgent Alcaraz.

“I never wanted to win in this manner; I truly sympathise with him,” Alcaraz expressed.

“I’m thrilled to have claimed the Monte Carlo title for the first time. It has been an incredibly tough week, full of challenging moments, and I’m proud of how I managed it all.”

Musetti initially took the lead by breaking Alcaraz’s serve twice to capture the first set, but the Spaniard responded emphatically in the second set with two breaks of his own, levelling the match.

With the clay season on the horizon, Alcaraz acknowledged his intention to apply the mental strategies he has refined over the past month to enhance his performance in key matches.

“In the upcoming months of the clay season, I will strive to maintain the same approach I had in this tournament, focusing less on outside expectations,” he noted. “I will listen to those close to me and heed my team’s advice, as that’s what truly matters. I will aim to tackle the clay season with this mindset.”

Due to impending rain, the match was rescheduled three hours earlier, with this clash marking Alcaraz’s third consecutive final on clay after his triumph at the French Open and securing a silver medal at last year’s Paris Olympics.

Musetti, who clinched a bronze medal beside Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics, had earlier secured a win against Australian Alex de Minaur, defeating him 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the Monte Carlo semi-finals.

Alcaraz joins an elite group of Spaniards who have claimed victory at the Monte Carlo Masters, including his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and the legendary Rafael Nadal.

However, when questioned about Nadal’s remarkable record of 11 titles, he conceded that such feats would be ‘impossible to replicate.’

“I’ve had numerous discussions with my team about Rafa’s achievements on clay,” reflected Alcaraz.

“Winning the same tournament 11 times, 14 times—it’s one of the most extraordinary feats in sport, not just in tennis but across all sports.”