Alcaraz Comes Back To Win Monte Carlo Title
Spaniard earns 6th ATP Masters 1000 title of career
For the first time in more than a year, Carlos Alcaraz has won an ATP Masters 1000 title.
The Spaniard came back from a set down to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in Monte Carlo on Sunday to win the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters.
Alcaraz benefitted from Musetti struggling with an injury throughout the latter stages of the match, and managed to win 12 of the last 13 games.
“It’s not the way I would have wanted to win a match. Thinking about Lorenzo, he has been through a tough week, played long matches,” said Alcaraz. “I feel sorry for him. It is one of his best results, ending up like this is not easy. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he will be 100 percent soon.”
The title comes at a key time for Alcaraz, who was bounced early in Miami in his previous tournament. But returning to the clay, Alcaraz regained his form, and had to dig deep throughout the week which included coming back from a set down three times, winning Monte Carlo for the first time in his career.
“I am really happy to win Monte Carlo for the first time. It has been a really difficult week with a lot of difficult situations,” said Alcaraz. “I am proud with how I dealt with everything. It has been a difficult month for me, so coming here and seeing the hard work pay off makes me happy.”
Alcaraz broke in the opening game of the match, but Musetti responded immediately, and carried the momentum through to win the first set.
But the Spaniard took control from there, dictating more of the points, and forced the final into a deciding third set. Alcaraz won all six games in the third set with Musetti clearly hampered, and now improves to 4-1 against the Italian in their five career showdowns.
Alcaraz moves up one spot to second in the world, while Musetti climbs five spots to settle in at 11th in the ATP Rankings.
