(Reuters) -Carlos Alcaraz overcame a slow start to beat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6 6-1 6-0 in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday, clinching his first title at the prestigious claycourt event and gaining momentum ahead of next month’s French Open.
The Spaniard dropped his opening two service games and struggled to find his range early on, particularly on his usually reliable forehand, as Musetti took full advantage to claim the first set.
But Alcaraz responded with a dominant display in the second, winning five straight games to take control of the match.
His physical power and improved shot selection proved too much for the Italian world number 16, who was seeking his first Masters 1000 title.
Alcaraz broke in the first and third games of the deciding set, maintaining his grip on the contest to seal victory in the first major European claycourt event of the season.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne;)
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