Jamie Malachy

1 week ago | tennismajors.com | Jamie Malachy |Jamie Malachy Smith

Musetti reached his first Master 1000 level final in Monte-Carlo, before falling in three sets to the Spaniard in the title match Carlos Alcaraz wins Monte-Carlo Masters 2025 © Chryslène Caillaud / Psnewz The first time Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz met in a tour-level match back in July 2022, it was the Italian who came out on top, coming through a tight three-set tussle in the final of the Hamburg Open.

1 week ago | tennismajors.com | Jamie Malachy |Jamie Malachy Smith

Indeed, at least the latter of these factors remains the central reason for Musetti’s defeat. Nonetheless, it was puzzling to see him put together such a courageous, commanding and high-quality first set only to collapse without any real hint of a fight across the second half of the contest. As it turns out, there was an underlying physical issue that hampered the Italian’s chances in this final.

1 week ago | tennismajors.com | Jamie Malachy |Jamie Malachy Smith

The Spaniard was a more than fitting champion, having mesmerised the crowds in Monaco all week with his trademark brand of flamboyant, performative, and sometimes astonishing, tennis. Coming into this year’s European clay-court swing in different circumstances as the reigning Roland-Garros champion, Alcaraz has kicked off his campaign for this stretch of the season in the perfect fashion. Musetti, meanwhile, was seeking his third ATP title and a first at the Masters 1000 level.

1 week ago | tennismajors.com | Jamie Malachy |Jamie Malachy Smith

Winning tennis isn’t always a matter of running the fastest and hitting the hardest. I have seen average-stocked players beat more physically talented players by being tactically more savvy. In a tennis singles match, the court may be the same, but the way that you play each point could be the deciding factor between a win and a walk-off loss. A good tennis singles strategy isn’t a nicety, it’s a necessity. Let’s break down what does work on the court. Strategy begins prior to the first serve.

1 week ago | tennismajors.com | Jamie Malachy |Jamie Malachy Smith

Before that, however, he will need some well-deserved rest in order to recover from a hard-fought and lengthy semi-final against De Minaur. Bidding to reach just his second Masters 1000 final, the Australian gave everything he had in a thrilling contest that eventually teased out the best in both men. It was De Minaur who came racing out of the blocks first, breaking four times in total compared to Musetti’s one as he cantered to the first set in impressive fashion.