Carlos Alcaraz delivered his first Monte Carlo victory. World no. 3 confronted a difficult opponent within the second spherical and dominated units two and three for his first triumph within the Principality. Alcaraz performed in opposition to Francisco Cerundolo and received 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
The Spaniard made a gradual begin earlier than leaving his rival miles behind. The Argentine claimed just one sport after the primary set and hit the exit door after an hour and 38 minutes. The 2nd seed claimed 21 factors greater than his rival.
Carlos with a beautiful backhand down the road winner in opposition to Cerundolo in Monte Carlo.
On the cash. 💴
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— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 9, 2025
Carlos served at solely 54% and confronted seven break factors. He obtained damaged two occasions in a row within the opener earlier than rising his degree. The Spaniard stepped in on the return after the opener and clinched 53% of the return factors. He transformed them into six breaks from eight alternatives.
They sprayed 31 unforced errors every. Alcaraz hit eight winners greater than his rival and solid an enormous benefit from the baseline and on the internet. The Spaniard broke within the third sport of the encounter after forcing the rival’s mistake.
World no. 3 missed a backhand within the fourth sport and introduced his rival again to 2-2. Cerundolo stepped in on the return in sport six and supplied his second straight break for a 4-2 benefit. The Argentine held within the subsequent one after the Spaniard’s unfastened backhand.
Francisco served for the opener in sport 9 and held at love with a service winner for 6-3 in 35 minutes. Carlos didn’t serve nicely at the start of the second set. He saved a pair of break factors in video games one and three and made a push on the return at 1-0.
Cerundolo missed a forehand and skilled a break at 15. Alcaraz saved two break factors within the subsequent one and cemented the benefit. The Argentine performed a unfastened drop shot within the fourth sport, struggling a break at love and falling 4-0 behind.
Francisco served to remain within the set at 0-5 and obtained damaged at 15 following Carlos’ tremendous forehand assault. Thus, the younger gun claimed the set with a bagel and compelled a decider after an hour and 5 minutes. The Spaniard served nicely within the decider and stored the stress on the opposite facet.
Cerundolo netted a backhand within the fourth sport, misplaced serve and fell 3-1 behind. The higher-ranked participant supplied a tremendous maintain within the subsequent one with a drop shot winner and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one.
World no. 3 landed a forehand drive-volley winner for an additional break and a 5-1 benefit. Carlos served for the win in sport seven and sealed the cope with a artful drop shot, celebrating his first triumph within the Principality.
