Sawt Falasteen - Alcaraz beats Davidovich Fokina to reach first Monte Carlo final

He will face either Alex de Minaur or Lorenzo Musetti on the red clay in Sunday's final.

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

Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is targeting his first Masters title since winning in Indian Wells last year and his first on clay since the 2024 French Open.

"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, who was beaten in the final of the Olympic tournament by Novak Djokovic in August.

His only title this season remains the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam in February but he appears to be enjoying his return to clay.

The victory also continues the uptick in his fortune at an event where he had lost his only other match in 2022.

Alcaraz won his only previous encounter with Davidovich Fokina, ranked 42 in the world, on the clay in Barcelona two years ago and he started quickly this time, breaking early.

Davidovich Fokina, who reached the last 16 of the Australia Open in January, broke back to make it 5-5 and then took the first set into the tie-break which he lost 7/2.

Alcaraz again broke early in the second set and this time there was no way back for Davidovich Fokina although he scrapped hard, saving 13 break points and four match points.

H.Darwish--SF-PST