Carlos Alcaraz Battles into Monte Carlo Masters Semi-Finals

April 12, 2025

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Carlos Alcaraz Battles into Monte Carlo Masters Semi-Finals

Carlos Alcaraz fought hard to reach the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, beating local favorite Arthur Fils in a tough match that ended 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Meanwhile, defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was knocked out, making it a day full of surprises. Let’s take a closer look at how Alcaraz made it through and what else happened in this exciting tennis tournament.

First, Alcaraz’s match against Fils was a real rollercoaster. Fils, ranked world number 15, started strong, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set by breaking Alcaraz’s serve twice. Alcaraz, who’s won four Grand Slams and is ranked number three in the world, didn’t give up. He pulled one break back and had four chances to tie the score at 2-2, but Fils held on. Later, Carlos Alcaraz managed to level the set at 4-4, only for Fils to break again and win the first set 6-4 after saving two more break points.

In the second set, Fils had seven chances to break Alcaraz’s serve but couldn’t take them. This gave Alcaraz an opening. With the score at 6-5, Alcaraz played a brilliant lob shot to steal Fils’ serve and win the set 7-5, tying the match. However, Alcaraz struggled to stay consistent. Early in the third set, he lost his serve again, falling behind 1-2. But his experience shone through. He broke back to level the score and then broke Fils again in the eighth game. Fils, frustrated, smashed his racket on the clay court. In the final game, Fils couldn’t recover, and Alcaraz sealed the win 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz causally reminding everyone that he has superpowers

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

pic.twitter.com/wqlsgSMXXb

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 10, 2025

After the match, Alcaraz shared his thoughts. “I believe true champions find their best game when it matters most,” he said. “I’d love to play my best from start to finish, but tennis is tough. We played for almost two and a half hours, and it’s hard to stay at your best the whole time. Sometimes your opponent plays better, and you just have to keep fighting.” Now, Alcaraz will face another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, in the semi-finals.

While Alcaraz was battling Fils, other matches brought their own drama. Lorenzo Musetti, the 13th seed from Italy, took on Stefanos Tsitsipas, the defending champion and sixth seed. Tsitsipas started well, winning the first set 6-1. But Musetti didn’t back down. He turned things around, winning the second set 6-3 and the third set 6-4, even though Tsitsipas made several mistakes, including double faults. This loss ended Tsitsipas’ chance to defend his title.

Next, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had an easier day, beating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. He’ll now face Alcaraz in an all-Spanish semi-final. Meanwhile, Australian Alex de Minaur had a stunning win over Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. De Minaur didn’t give Dimitrov a single game, winning 6-0, 6-0 in just 44 minutes. Dimitrov made 23 errors, which helped de Minaur cruise to victory. De Minaur will play Musetti in the other semi-final.

For Carlos Alcaraz, reaching the semi-finals is a big deal. The 21-year-old is playing in Monte Carlo for only the second time. His first try in 2022 ended with an early loss, and he missed the tournament in 2023 and 2024 due to injuries. This year, he’s showing he can handle the clay courts of Monte Carlo, where he’s never won before. A victory here could push him past Alexander Zverev to become world number two, making this tournament even more important.

Moreover, Alcaraz’s win over Fils shows his ability to stay calm under pressure. Fils played well and had plenty of chances, but Alcaraz’s experience helped him win the key moments. His lob to win the second set and his fightback in the third set proved why he’s a champion.

As the Monte Carlo Masters heads toward its final days, fans are excited for the semi-finals. Alcaraz versus Davidovich Fokina promises to be a thrilling match between two Spaniards who know each other well. On the other side, Musetti and de Minaur will battle it out, with both players coming off strong wins. After Tsitsipas’ exit, the tournament is wide open, and any of these players could lift the trophy.