Monte Carlo: Carlos Alkaraz first chased the sixth masters title against finalist Lorenzo Mussetti. Tennis news

Carlos Alakraj Protected your first Monte Carlo Masters Final appearance on Saturday by defeating fellow Spaniereard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. He will face 13th seeded Italian Lorenzo musettiWho overcome the Australian eighth seed Alex de De Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the second semi-finals.
Four -time Grand Slam Champion Alkaraz Last year, he has been seeking its first Masters title since its victory in Indian Wales. This season, his only title came at the ATP 500 event at Rotterdam in February.
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“I knew how well Davidovich Fokina played Monte Carlo So I had to be ready to fight, “said Alakraj.
Alkaraz, referring to his Olympic final disadvantage to Novak Djokovic in August, said, “I have got a chance to win a title on Clay and I can’t wait to try my luck again here.”
He said, “At the beginning of the week, the first tournament on the clay, you have to make a habit of conditions.” “The ball comes different. You know, the play on the clay is different … I am really happy to achieve the level I wanted at the beginning of the week.”
Alakraj Top Seed Alexander emerged as a favorite of the tournament after an early exit by Alexander Zerev and Novak Djokovic, while world number one Jannik sinner is suspended due to a doping ban.
“First question, you know, since Jannik was unable to play the tournament, many people were asking me and talking about how important () I have further ()) that I again have to reach the number one (rankings) or win the tournament or whatever,” Alakraj said. “I was thinking a lot about it instead of playing my good tennis and I was enjoying the time who was stepping into court and playing the match.”
The 21 -year -old Spanieng started firmly against World No. 42 Davidovich Fokina, achieving an early break. However, Davidovich Fokina fought back at 5-5 before losing the first set tiebreak 7/2.
Alkaraj again broke into the second set again and maintained his profit despite Davidovich Fokina’s 13 break points and four match points saving.
In the other semi -finals, Mussetty made a difficult start, where he lost all four service games in the first set. Italian re -achieved his composition in the second set, which breaks D. Mainaur in the ninth game.
The decisive third set saw several service brakes before going to a tiebreak, where Musti strong at the point of his first match when D Minaur hit the forehand in the net.
“This means so much. Honestly, it is unexpected,” said Mussetty, who will enter the top 10 in the world if he wins in the finals. “If I look back, where we started, at the beginning of the week, I was definitely dreaming of being in the final and there was a chance to play for the top 10, for the title, for a lot of things.”
The final will be a rematch between Alakraj and Mussetti, in which Spaniels will win their last three matches. However, Mussetty won its only last final meeting in Hamburg in 2022.

“Surely the key to that match was the mental part,” said Mussetti. “So hopefully I will do the same tomorrow.”
The match represents an important milestone for both players, in which Alakraj appeared in the biggest finals of their career in search of their first Clay Court Masters title.