Carlos Alcaraz takes big risk but hits semifinal in Monte Carlo

Two hours and 23 minutes of a grueling struggle, to the tune of winning baseline broadsides, net runs and extreme defense. This and much more was the incredible quarterfinal between Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3 ATP) and Arthur Fils (No. 15) at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, the third “1000” of the season. After a rather crazy comeback, it was the Spaniard who came out on top and will thus play his first semifinal in the Principality. More than a few regrets for Fils, who succumbed with a score of 4-6 7-5 6-3 after several untaken chances in the last two partials.

Alcaraz, after a first set lost despite two breaks recovered (from the heavy 0-3), failed to raise his level with continuity, risking to finish several times down by a break. The first turning point came at 5-5 0-40 in the second set, where the Frenchman committed three consecutive free errors. Down 6-5, Fils then suffered a heavy psychological backlash, conceding three more points in a row and finding himself overruled by a stunning lob from the Spaniard on set point.

Even at the start of the third set, Fils was the more consistent player, except that he then experienced tension at the most important moment. Errors thus increased disproportionately just when he was ahead 3-1, and the last five games sealed the final verdict in favor of Alcaraz, who will thus be able to return to play a semifinal in a Masters 1000 on clay for the first time since the Mutua Madrid Open of 2023.