Carlos Alcaraz reached an impressive win milestone with his thrilling three-set victory over an inspired Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters.
The four-time major champion had to dig deep to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after two hours and 23 minutes in a highly-entertaining first encounter with Fils.
Alcaraz was under huge pressure from a brilliant Fils for much of the match, but he displayed grit to reach his maiden semi-final in Monte Carlo.
The 21-year-old Spaniard lost serve three times in the opening set and had to save seven break points en route to stealing the second — including three in a crucial hold at 5-5, 0-40.
The world No 3 then trailed the 20-year-old Frenchman 1-3 in the decider before winning five straight games to seal a valuable triumph on Court Rainier III.
After beating the world No 15, Alcaraz told Tennis TV: “I was just wanted to stay strong… Waited for my chances. I felt in the first set, he played well. Probably a few mistakes from my side.
“His level is pretty high right now. He puts a lot of pressure on his opponents. I could feel it. I think in some moments he made a few mistakes and I tried to make the most of it. Just tried to wait for my chances and tried to take it.
“In the second set, I saved break points at 5-5. In the third set, I tried to stay there, playing good tennis. When I was a break down I tried to keep going, playing aggressively. Be strong mentally, physically, and waiting for my chances.”
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Alcaraz’s victory was his 70th at Masters 1000 level, which is the third most any player has registered at this category of event before turning 22. The Spaniard will celebrate his 22nd birthday on 5 May.
Rafael Nadal (110) and Novak Djokovic (75) are the only men to achieve more Masters 1000 match wins than Alcaraz before turning 22.
Most Masters 1000 wins before turning 22
1) Rafael Nadal – 110
2) Novak Djokovic – 75
3) Carlos Alcaraz – 70
4) Andy Roddick – 67
=5) Andy Murray – 64
=5) Lleyton Hewitt – 64
This was Alcaraz’s 19th Masters 1000 win on clay, with 15 of these victories coming at the Madrid Open, three in Monte Carlo and one in Rome.
Alcaraz will face Spanish compatriot and world No 42 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo.
Davidovich Fokina, a runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2022, downed Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2 in the last eight.
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