Alcaraz to face Musetti in Monte Carlo final

Carlos Alcaraz says he "cannot hold to effort my luck again" connected nan clay erstwhile he faces Lorenzo Musetti successful nan Monte Carlo Masters final.

French Open champion Alcaraz hit Spanish compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 connected Saturday to scope his first Masters 1000 last successful 13 months.

Italy's Musetti, who won Olympic bronze connected nan Roland Garros clay, fought backmost to hit Australia's Alex de Minaur 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) successful their semi-final.

Alcaraz has a 16-1 singles grounds connected nan clay since nan commencement of past year's French Open, pinch his sole nonaccomplishment being to Novak Djokovic in nan Olympic final.

"It's been a agelong clip since I've had nan chance to triumph a title connected clay and I can't hold to effort my luck again here," nan 21-year-old said.

"I conscionable had to beryllium diligent and judge that this infinitesimal was going to travel again.

"Sometimes nan group are not patient, they want maine to make nan last successful each tournament."

A four-time awesome champion, Alcaraz has had a mixed commencement to nan season, winning nan Rotterdam Open but suffering some astonishing losses during nan hard-court season.

In Monte Carlo, nan world number 3 made a speedy commencement against Davidovich Fokina, going up an early break but faltering erstwhile serving for nan group astatine 5-3.

Davidovich Fokina held patient to nonstop nan opener to a tie-break, but Alcaraz ran distant pinch it and again went up an early break successful nan 2nd set.

This clip he was capable to clasp connected to his lead, hitting 21 winners to Davidovich Fokina's 19 to scope his first Masters last since Indian Wells successful 2024.

Meanwhile, Musetti, who ended Stefanos Tsitsipas' title defence successful nan quarter-finals, could not find his scope successful nan opening group against De Minaur.

However, he claimed a important break successful nan 2nd arsenic nan rainfall arrived, utilizing his one-handed backhand to awesome effect to unit a decider.

Another break allowed Musetti to service for nan lucifer astatine 5-4 - but De Minaur, 1 of nan champion protect players connected nan men's tour, collapsed backmost and ensured nan lucifer would beryllium decided connected a tie-break.

Musetti held his nervus well, taking power of nan breaker and moving into nan biggest last of his profession arsenic De Minaur planted a forehand into nan net.