"It's been a long time since I've had the chance to win a title on clay and I can't wait to try my luck again here," the 21-year-old said.

"I just had to be patient and believe that this moment was going to come again.

"Sometimes the people are not patient, they want me to make the final in every tournament."

A four-time major champion, Alcaraz has had a mixed start to the season, winning the Rotterdam Open but suffering some surprising losses during the hard-court season.

In Monte Carlo, the world number three made a quick start against Davidovich Fokina, going up an early break but faltering when serving for the set at 5-3.

Davidovich Fokina held firm to send the opener to a tie-break, but Alcaraz ran away with it and again went up an early break in the second set.

This time he was able to hold on to his lead, hitting 21 winners to Davidovich Fokina's 19 to reach his first Masters final since Indian Wells in 2024.

Meanwhile, Musetti, who ended Stefanos Tsitsipas' title defence in the quarter-finals, could not find his range in the opening set against De Minaur.

However, he claimed a crucial break in the second as the rain arrived, using his one-handed backhand to great effect to force a decider.

Another break allowed Musetti to serve for the match at 5-4 - but De Minaur, one of the best defensive players on the men's tour, broke back and ensured the match would be decided on a tie-break.

Musetti held his nerve well, taking control of the breaker and moving into the biggest final of his career as De Minaur planted a forehand into the net.