Carlos Alcaraz fought back from the brink of defeat to defeat Arthur Fils in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals on Friday, while defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a shock loss to Lorenzo Musetti. Alcaraz, ranked No. 3 in the world, came from behind to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after 2½ hours, while Tsitsipas, a three-time Monte Carlo champion, was eliminated in straight sets by Musetti, who rallied after losing the first set 6-1.
Alcaraz Battles Through Tough Match Against Fils
Carlos Alcaraz found himself five points away from elimination in the second set and trailing 3-1 in the final set against France’s Arthur Fils. However, the Spanish tennis star showed his resilience, pulling through to win the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The match lasted 2½ hours and featured high tension as Fils, who was playing in his third consecutive Masters quarterfinal, struggled with 53 unforced errors.
“I have missed clay,” Alcaraz remarked after the win, referencing his return to the surface ahead of his French Open title defense.
This victory marks Alcaraz’s first-ever semifinal appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters. In the next round, he will face fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2. This will be the first time the two meet on tour in two years.
Fils Shows Early Promise But Can’t Maintain Momentum
Fils started the match strongly, breaking Alcaraz twice to establish a 3-0 lead. The Frenchman had an opportunity to extend his advantage but was unable to hold off Alcaraz, who fought back to level at 4-4. Despite several chances, Fils eventually broke Alcaraz again to win the set 6-4, saving two break points along the way.
The momentum shifted in the second set as Fils struggled to convert break points. He wasted seven break points, and Alcaraz capitalized on a critical lob to break Fils’ serve and win the set 7-5. Fils, frustrated by his own errors, could not recover as Alcaraz found his rhythm in the final set.
“I believe that true champions find the right level when necessary,” Alcaraz said after the match. “It’s not easy to maintain your best level for the entire match, but when needed, you get back to your best shots.”
Tsitsipas Unable to Hold Off Musetti’s Resilience
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has claimed three Monte Carlo titles, looked on course for another victory after taking the first set against Lorenzo Musetti 6-1. However, Tsitsipas struggled to hold his serve throughout the match, making only eight of his 28 first serves in the deciding set. His second serve performance was equally disappointing, and seven double faults in the final set led to his downfall.
Musetti took full advantage of Tsitsipas’ mistakes, winning the final two sets 6-3, 6-4. The Italian, who has been in impressive form, was visibly emotional after securing the win, shedding tears of joy.
“It’s difficult to accept,” Tsitsipas said. “I felt so confident, but things didn’t go my way today. It’s heartbreaking.”
Musetti Set to Face De Minaur in Semifinals
Lorenzo Musetti will face Alex de Minaur in the semifinals after de Minaur’s stunning 6-0, 6-0 victory over Grigor Dimitrov in just 44 minutes. Dimitrov, who struggled throughout the match, committed an astonishing 23 unforced errors, handing de Minaur his first clay-court semifinal appearance in three years.
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
With Alcaraz, Davidovich Fokina, Musetti, and de Minaur all reaching the semifinals, the Monte Carlo Masters is set to feature some exciting matchups. Alcaraz, still aiming to defend his French Open title, will be looking to extend his strong clay-court form as he faces Davidovich Fokina. Meanwhile, Musetti will be eager to prove his victory over Tsitsipas was no fluke as he takes on the in-form De Minaur.
