Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his maiden Monte-Carlo Masters final on Saturday with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The highly anticipated semi-final encounter brought both fierce competition and a light-hearted moment at the net before the first ball was struck.
A light-hearted start at the net
Traditionally, players pose for a photograph following the coin toss before the match begins. However, the pre-match ritual took a humorous turn when Davidovich Fokina jokingly told chair umpire Aurélie Tourte,
I don’t want a picture with him.
Tourte, amused, turned to Alcaraz for a reaction. The world No. 3 didn’t miss a beat, coolly responding,
It is what it is.
The playful banter between the two close friends brought laughter to the court, even as the coin toss had to be redone after the coin hit the net. Ultimately, Davidovich Fokina won the toss and opted to receive, and the pair proceeded with the customary photo.
A grueling encounter between friends
The match itself was anything but casual. Alcaraz came out strong, taking an early 5-2 lead in the opening set. Yet Davidovich Fokina mounted a spirited comeback, forcing a tiebreak that Alcaraz eventually clinched after over 30 minutes of tension-filled rallies.
In the second set, Alcaraz again had to dig deep, needing six match points to secure the win. The two-hour clash showcased resilience and brilliance from both players, but it was the four-time Grand Slam champion who emerged victorious, reaching his seventh ATP Masters 1000 final.
Balancing friendship and competition
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz opened up about the emotional challenge of facing a close friend on such a big stage.
It's difficult, because the friendship we have off the court is really good. Playing against a friend... for a final in a Masters 1000 sometimes can be tricky, he admitted.
Just really happy to stay away from that friendship and just being a little bit selfish and thinking about myself. There are good things and bad things about playing against a friend who I know pretty good.
Davidovich Fokina, who is set to tie the knot later this year, had previously invited Alcaraz to his wedding. With the score between them now 2-0 in favor of Alcaraz, some light-hearted speculation has emerged over whether that invite still stands.