Irresistible Alcaraz turns the tide against Musetti to win Monte-Carlo title
The Spaniard recovered from a slow start to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 and win the Monte-Carlo Masters title in Monaco
Carlos Alcaraz wins Monte-Carlo Masters 2025 © Chryslène Caillaud / Psnewz
Carlos Alcaraz has made the biggest statement of his 2025 season thus far, recovering from a slow start to blow away Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 and win his maiden Monte-Carlo Masters title.
It is the world No 3’s sixth Masters 1000 title and the18th ATP title of his young career. Having claimed the Rotterdam title – an ATP 500 event – in February, Alcaraz has won his second and biggest trophy of the season so far. In doing so, he has also returned to second in the world rankings behind leading rival Jannik Sinner.
The Spaniard was a more than fitting champion, having mesmerised the crowds in Monaco all week with his trademark brand of flamboyant, performative, and sometimes astonishing, tennis. Coming into this year’s European clay-court swing in different circumstances as the reigning Roland-Garros champion, Alcaraz has kicked off his campaign for this stretch of the season in the perfect fashion.
Musetti, meanwhile, was seeking his third ATP title and a first at the Masters 1000 level. Reaching the final in Monte-Carlo has been a wonderful breakthrough from him, but taking that last step against a calibre of opponent such as Alcaraz proved too much for the Italian today.
It had all started so promisingly for Musetti, but an impressive first set rapidly gave way to a disappointing, one-sided finish which ultimately became something of a procession for Alcaraz with his opponent seemingly struggling physically.
positive start quickly turns sour for musetti
Initially, the Spaniard appeared to have settled the quicker of the two, as Musetti surrendered serve in a concerningly nervous opening game. However, it proved to be an anomalous start to the match as the Italian then broke twice either side of a comfortable hold to rapidly flip the script and seize command of the opening stanza.
Musetti’s groundstrokes were operating beautifully, with his elegant fluid motions frequently injected with a venomous concoction of pace and depth to keep a somewhat sluggish-looking Alcaraz off balance throughout.
The Spaniard wasn’t at his free-flowing best, it must be said, with an uncharacteristic 14 unforced errors across the opener hampering his efforts to get back on level pegging with his opponent. Musetti stood firm, holding on to his serve for the remainder of the set to move into a deserved one-set lead.
The second set was an entirely different story, however. Where Alcaraz had been profligate in some of the more extended exchanges, he made up for in his clinical conversion of break-point opportunities. The Spaniard broke twice in the second and fourth games of the middle stanza to sprint into a rapid-fire 5-0 lead, having converted all three of his break point chances.
He was also excellent at the net, making regular forays forward and executing crisp point-ending volleys almost every time he did.
There was some respite for Musetti towards the tail-end of the set, however, in the shape of a much-needed hold for the Italian to get him on the board. But he could not capitalise on the four break points he generated as Alcaraz attempted to serve out the set, his sustained pressure eventually yielding no reward as the Spaniard took the match into a decider.
From there, any drama in this final dissipated with Musetti’s resistance. Alcaraz broke another three times without reply or much hint of a fight from the Italian, as he breezed to the finish line to clinch a thoroughly deserved sixth Masters 1000 title.
Despite a chastening end to the contest, Musetti remained typically gracious in defeat.
“Of course I wanna thank Carlos for sharing the court – always a pleasure for me. Always a lesson,” he said in his runner-up speech.
“Disappointed I couldn’t finish the match in the best way for the crowd and for all the support I’ve received this week. But you deserve it. I’ll try to come back for revenge.”
Alcaraz, similarly, paid tribute to a player who will share these stages with the Spaniard for years to come, but directed his winner’s speech primarily towards his team.
“To my team – I have no words to say how grateful I am for the great work and for everything,” he said.
“To be with my team, in the professional part, and to be my family – because I feel like we are like a family. We’ve been through a difficult moment the last month. We’ve been always together, really strong together.
“Going the right path and doing great things. Just to come here to Monte-Carlo and just to play good tennis. I want to say thank you for everything.”
a significant title for alcaraz in monte-carlo
Alcaraz’s title in Monte-Carlo is significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it breaks an early-career hoodoo he’d built up over the past few years at this event, having been knocked out in the opening round in 2022 before niggling injuries kept him away from the tournament in 2023 and 2024.
Secondly, it means that his first clay-court campaign as defending Roland-Garros champion gets off to the perfect start.
Alcaraz has set the tone in the right way for the next couple of months, as the tour once again builds towards the climax of the French Open.
Finally, following an underwhelming set of results in the US last month, Alcaraz has emphatically dispelled any doubts about his mindset with a return to his best form on what is likely his favoured surface.
What’s more, he has – as always – done it his way. Refusing to bow to criticisms of over-playing, or putting performance above result, Alcaraz burst back onto the scene in Monte-Carlo with his breathtaking array of trick shots, copious drop-shot use, and all-court game to storm to the title and announce a dominant return to the clay.
The precocious young Spaniard is back to winning ways. And with this title, Alcaraz has seized the mantle of the leading man on Europe’s clay courts.
After a start like this, it will be fascinating to see just what sort of clay-court campaign he can put together this season.
