Carlos Alcaraz lifted his sixth Masters 1000 title on Sunday after an impressive comeback win over Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte Carlo Masters, sealing a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory. But after the on-court celebrations, he received a rather unexpected and humorous reminder of how far he’s come—his own attempt at creating the tournament trophy.
In the days leading up to the tournament, Alcaraz took part in a fun pre-event challenge where players tried their hand at pottery, recreating the iconic Monte Carlo trophy. Unfortunately for the world No. 3, his creation didn’t exactly match his on-court precision—it collapsed mid-process.
“I made it during media day before the tournament began. Could’ve been better,” Alcaraz said with a laugh during his post-match press conference, holding up the wobbly clay piece. “What do you think, guys? It’s the worst one. But hey, I get what I deserve!”
While players like Grigor Dimitrov and Felix Auger-Aliassime managed more respectable replicas, Alcaraz’s trophy was a clear flop. Still, the moment brought levity to what had been an intense week of tennis.
It was a triumphant turnaround for Alcaraz, who had never won a match in Monte Carlo before this year. He lost on debut in 2022 and missed the last two editions due to injury. Coming into the event off a first-round loss in Miami, expectations were high—but so was the pressure.
Addressing the weight of public opinion, Alcaraz admitted, “It’s tough when people expect you to win everything. I realized I needed to stop listening to all that noise and just focus on myself, my team, and the path we’re on.”
He added, “I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong. I’m just happy I was able to refocus, enjoy the game again, and stay committed to what really matters.”
After his dominant win and a light-hearted pottery moment, Alcaraz is not only leaving Monaco with a real trophy in hand—but also with a renewed mindset and confidence heading into the rest of the clay season.
