Carlos Alcaraz stays true to his word of 'no friends' to book Monte-Carlo Masters finals berth

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz was true to his words to his fellow countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as he secured his spot in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters. The 21-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category along with the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner, cemented his spot in the final of the ongoing ATP 1000 event in Monaco.

He defeated his fellow countryman Davidovich Fokina in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-4. Ahead of the last-four clash, Alcaraz was quoted in a report by Daily Express, where he admitted that the 25-year-old is his friend and that he has also invited him for the wedding later this year. However, he was very clear about the fact that there will be ‘no friends’ on the court, and he made sure that he was true to his words.

“Yeah, he invited me to his wedding. He's a friend. We have seen each other for a long time already,” said Alcaraz. “He used to play with my older brother when they were younger, as well. I know him pretty well. I've played against him a few times. Practised a lot. So it's going to be interesting. It's not gonna be easy, never easy playing against a friend, but, you know, this is tennis. Once you step on the court, there are no friends.”

The win is a massive one for Alcaraz, who came into the competition on the back of some disappointing performances this season. He accepted that his below-par outings in the recent past were down to the fact that he could not handle the pressure of becoming world number one, especially after Sinner’s three-month ban was announced.

"A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become No. 1 if Jannik is not playing,” he said back then. “So probably that pressure has killed me in some way. I'm not surprised [that I am so far behind Sinner]. The people always say that we have to win the tournaments or the top people have to be there all the time playing finals or winning tournaments. I'm just thinking that I'm not able to become No. 1...in the clay season. Even if Jannik is not playing, I don't have the chance to do it. I think I'm too far from Jannik. So I'm just here and I realise that I don't have to think about it and just go there and play. That's my mindset right now."