Spain’s top-ranked tennis player Carlos Alcaraz secured his maiden berth in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters with a clinical 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 triumph over compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday, thereby setting up a high-stakes final against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.

Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner, had entered the tournament as a clear favourite following the early exits of top seed Alexander Zverev and Serbian veteran Novak Djokovic, while world number one Jannik Sinner remained under suspension due to a doping violation.

“I knew how well Davidovich Fokina had played in Monte Carlo so I had to be ready to fight,” said Alcaraz.

The 21-year-old initiated the semi-final encounter with an early break of serve and sustained a superior rhythm through most of the first set. Davidovich Fokina, ranked 42nd globally and a former finalist at this tournament, fought back valiantly to level at 5-5 before eventually conceding the tie-break 7/2.

Alcaraz again imposed early dominance in the second set by breaking serve and refused to relinquish control.

Davidovich Fokina displayed resilience, salvaging 13 break points and denying four match points, but failed to halt Alcaraz’s surge to the final.

Alcaraz’s only previous Monte Carlo appearance ended in a first-round defeat in 2022. He had also defeated Davidovich Fokina once before, on the clay of Barcelona two years ago.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance to win a title on clay and I can’t wait to try my luck again here,” said Alcaraz. “At the beginning of the week, the first tournament on clay, you have to get used to the conditions,” he added. “The ball comes different. You know, the play on clay is different... I’m just really happy to get the level that I wanted at the beginning of the week.”

Alcaraz had lifted his only title of the season at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam in February and now aimed to clinch his first Masters crown since Indian Wells last year.

“The first question, you know, since Jannik was unable to play tournaments, a lot of people were asking me and talking about, how important moment that I have ahead is to reach the number one again or to win tournaments or whatever,” said Alcaraz. “I was thinking so much about it instead of playing my good tennis and enjoy the time that I have stepping on the court and playing matches.”

In the day’s second semi-final, Italy’s 13th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti overcame Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur in a three-set thriller, prevailing 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

Musetti, representing his nation in his debut Masters semi-final, faltered under pressure initially and conceded all four service games in the opening set. However, he rebounded decisively by breaking serve in the ninth game of the second set before holding firm to draw level.

The Wimbledon 2024 semi-finalist edged ahead amid a sequence of three consecutive breaks midway through the final set. Although he failed to serve out the match with a 5-4 lead, Musetti maintained composure during the decisive tie-break and sealed victory on his first match point when De Minaur misfired a forehand.