Match Report
Alcaraz ends Vacherot’s run, sets No. 1 shootout with Sinner in Monte-Carlo final
Pair will face off for first time in 2026 on Sunday in Monaco
April 11, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz in action against Valentin Vacherot on Saturday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
By Andy West
Carlos Alcaraz ended home favourite Valentin Vacherot’s fairytale Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters run with a typically classy semi-final display on Saturday afternoon. In doing so, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings set a blockbuster final against his great rival, Jannik Sinner.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz edged a spirited Vacherot 6-4, 6-4 on Court Rainier III to keep alive his hopes of successfully defending his title at the clay ATP Masters 1000 event. The Spaniard expertly countered the big-serving, big-hitting game of Vacherot, whom the engrossed home crowd supported vociferously throughout, and converted three of four break points he earned en route to his 84-minute victory, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Carlitos Coming Through 💪
Carlos Alcaraz defeats home favourite Vacherot 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Monte-Carlo final #rolexmontecarlomasters pic.twitter.com/t96t2oxLtt
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 11, 2026
With Sinner having earlier triumphed 6-1, 6-4 against Alexander Zverev in the day’s first semi-final, fans in Monte-Carlo and around the world can now look forward to the first meeting between Alcaraz and Sinner in 2026. Alcaraz will enter Sunday’s final, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time (CEST), with a 10-6 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
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There will be a double prize on offer to the winner of Alcaraz and Sinner’s Monte-Carlo showdown. As well as taking the trophy at the opening clay Masters 1000 of the year, whoever prevails will also be World No. 1 on Monday. Sinner is attempting to end the reign of incumbent Alcaraz, who this week tied the Italian for total weeks spent as No. 1 (66).
“I think it’s the dream spot for everyone I would say. I’m fighting for a second Monte-Carlo title, he’s fighting for his first one,” said Alcaraz of Sunday’s final, which will be the pair’s first meeting since the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals title match. “It’s going to be a really special one. The No. 1 is on the line, which will make tomorrow even more special.”
Alcaraz was also quick to pay tribute to Vacherot, who was the first Monegasque to reach a Monte-Carlo quarter-final and semi-final in the Open Era. The 27-year-old, who made headlines last October by winning the Rolex Shanghai Masters as the World No. 204 to become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in series history (since 1990), reclaimed an early break in the second set but was ultimately unable to fend off Alcaraz’s victory charge. Despite the loss, Vacherot will on Monday rise six spots to a career-high World No. 17.
“For me, I’m just happy to win this really difficult match against Valentin,” said Alcaraz, who has bounced back from semi-final defeat in Indian Wells and an early exit in Miami to reach his third tour-level final of the year. “He’s playing great tennis with a lot of confidence right now, playing in his hometown. It was really tough to get the win, but I’m really excited about my first meeting with Jannik in 2026.”
In his maiden tour-level meeting with Vacherot, Alcaraz took control early with a break of the Monegasque’s serve in the third game. That proved to be the only break of the opening set and Alcaraz appeared ready to cruise to a straightforward triumph after he also broke in the third game of the second.
Vacherot stuck gamely to his task and deployed his booming forehand to great effect to engineer an immediate break back for 2-2. Yet Alcaraz was not rocked and, despite an unsuccessful Video Review in a potentially crucial moment at 4-4, 30/15 to see if Vacherot had hit a ball into the ground before the net, the Spaniard maintained his composure to improve to 21-2 for the season.