Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers when they battle for a place in the final of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Saturday afternoon. Their only previous meeting came on the clay-court swing two years ago, when Alcaraz prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4 in the Barcelona quarterfinals.
On paper this is not a particularly surprising all-Spanish semifinal showdown given that Alcaraz was the title favorite coming into the week and that Davidovich Fokina is a former runner-up in Monte-Carlo (2022). However, both guys easily could have been out of the tournament much earlier in the week. Alcaraz dropped the first set of his opening match against Francisco Cerundolo, while Davidovich Fokina trailed Ben Shelton by a set and a break in the first round.
Things did not get any easier for Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Friday, when he was five points away from a straight-set defeat against Arthur Fils at 5-5, 0-40 in the second. The world No. 3 also trailed 3-1 in the third but stormed back for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory. Making just his second appearance in the principality, Alcaraz also clobbered Daniel Altmaier on his way to the last four.
After overcoming Shelton, Davidovich Fokina beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Jack Draper, and Alexei Popyrin–dropping just one more set to Draper in the process. The world No. 42 is now up to eighth in the live race to Turin, also thanks to a runner-up performances in Delray Beach and Acapulco.
“It’s going to be interesting,” Alcaraz assured. “It’s not gonna be easy–never easy playing against a friend, but this is tennis. Once you step on the court, there are no friends. I know this is a tournament he loves playing; he feels really comfortable playing here in Monte-Carlo. I think he’s been playing good tennis lately. I think it’s going to be a really interesting match to watch (and) to play. I’m excited.”
Although Alcaraz is not is invincible form right now, his level has–as expected–improved match by match as he sinks his teeth into the clay-court season. For Davidovich Fokina, who has never won an ATP title, good things rarely happen when he reaches the business end of a tournament. The underdog has the talent to be competitive in this matchup, but Alcaraz has both the tangible and intangible advantages.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2