Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has had a great start to the 2025 season. He has a shot of playing his third final of the year at the Monte Carlo Masters. Fokina has to beat his accomplished compatriot, Carlos Alcaraz, in the first semifinal. Carlos has never won the title in Monte Carlo and is motivated to get into the final. Alcaraz is up one to nothing in the head to head.
Davidovich Fokina showed a great display of clay court tennis when he got the better of Popyrin in the QF. He won the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Fokina’s serve was working well once again at the ATP 1000 Rolex Masters. He won 81% of the points in his first serve to Popyrin’s 63%. Davidovich won 73% of the points on his second serve, Popyrin was at 53%. Fokina did not concede any breakpoints and he converted three out of his nine breakpoints. Alejandro had eleven winners and 13 unforced errors. The 42 ranked Fokina will be top 30 on Monday after his successful week in Monte Carlo.
This was the 18th win (eight losses) of the season for Alejandro. That's the exact amount of games he won last season (18-22). After the win against Popyrin he told ATPtour.com the following: “I’ve improved as a person, my maturity. I am better at controlling my emotions on the court”. The 26 year old from Malaga started out his campaign in Monte Carlo by beating Shelton in the round of 64 (2-1). Fokina got the better of Etcheverry in the round of 32 (2-0). The next obstacle on Alejandro’s path was Draper, Fokina won the round of 16 match in straight sets.
Alejandro started out the season in Hong Kong with a first round exit and a second round exit in Adelaide. He got to the round of 16 at the Australian Open but lost to Paul. Davidovich lost in the second round in Dallas and then got to the final at Delray Beach. He lost to Kecmanovic in three sets. Fokina reached the final at the ATP 500 in Acapulco the following week (lost to Machac in two sets). Alejandro lost in the opening round at Indian Wells and in the second round at the Miami Masters.
It took Carlos a hard fought win against the French hard hitter, Fils, to reach the semi at the Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo. The 21 year old from Murcia won the match in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The world number three was in trouble on occasions in the match but was able to ride it out in the end. As many times before Carlos played well and aggressively on the important points. Alcaraz needed two and half hours to close the match. Carlos started out his 2025 Monte Carlo campaign by beating Cerundolo in the round of 32 (2-1). He took care of Altmeier in the round of 16 (2-0). Carlos has only faced Davidovich Fokina once on the ATP Tour. It was back in 2023 at the ATP 500 Barcelona. Alcaraz won the match in two sets (7-6 (5), 6-4).
Alcaraz has won 18 matches and lost four on the ATP tour this season. Monte Carlo is his 6th entry of the season. Carlos didn't play in any lead up event to Melbourne and the Australian Open. He lost to Djokovic in the QF and went on to win the title at the ATP 500 Rotterdam. Alcaraz lost in the QF in Doha and reached the semi at the ATP 1000 Indian Wells Masters. Carlos had an early exit at the Miami Masters where he lost his first match in the round of 64.
