MONACO (AP) — In a thrilling showdown, Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback against Arthur Fils, while defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was unexpectedly eliminated in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals on Friday.
The World No. 3, Alcaraz, found himself on the brink of defeat with just five points from losing in the second set and trailing 3-1 in the final set. However, he showcased his resilience, clinching victory with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after a grueling 2.5-hour match.
Fils, competing in his third consecutive Masters quarterfinal, struggled significantly, accumulating a staggering 53 unforced errors that ultimately cost him the match.
“I have missed the clay,” Alcaraz expressed, reflecting on his return to the surface.
As he gears up to defend his title at the French Open, Alcaraz has advanced to his first Monte Carlo semifinals, where he will face fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the finalist of 2022.
It’s worth noting that the two have not faced each other on tour in the past two years.
Davidovich Fokina triumphed over Alexei Popyrin with a convincing score of 6-3, 6-2.
On the other hand, Tsitsipas faced an unexpected turn of events against Lorenzo Musetti. The three-time Monte Carlo champion, boasting a flawless 5-0 record against Musetti prior to this match, started strong by taking the first set 6-1.
However, Tsitsipas struggled afterward, with his serving woes becoming apparent—he managed to land less than half of his first serves, including only eight out of 28 in the deciding set. A crucial double fault set him back 4-3 in the final set, allowing Musetti to seize the moment and clinch the last two sets at 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s tough to come to terms with,” Tsitsipas lamented. “Feeling so confident on this court yet unable to convert a match that I believed I had every reason to win… it’s truly heartbreaking.”
In an emotional moment, Musetti shed tears of joy as he secured his victory.
Next, he will go head-to-head with Alex de Minaur, who marked his return to the clay semifinals after an impressive performance, completely overpowering Grigor Dimitrov with a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
