Alcaraz Bounces Back from Error-Strewn Set to Reach Monte-Carlo Quarterfinals
World No. 1 battles through with a thrilling victory over Etcheverry to set a clash with Bublik in the quarter-finals.
April 09, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz extends his winning streak to seven at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
By Jerome Coombe
Carlos Alcaraz faced a fierce challenge on Thursday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, but the defending champion showed remarkable resilience to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
The top-ranked player in the PIF ATP Rankings initially surged against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, ultimately prevailing in a grueling 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 battle. Despite encountering a rough patch with 23 unforced errors in the second set, Alcaraz refocused and delivered when it mattered most to keep his title hopes alive.
STILL reigning supreme 👑 @carlosalcaraz launches his title defence into the Elite 8 @ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/yjr5vtVDZk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 9, 2026
“I started really strong in the first set and felt great,” Alcaraz commented. “But as the match progressed, I missed some opportunities to break his serve early in the second set. You’ve got to capitalize at this level, and when you don’t, the pressure can shift. It was a tough fight in the end.”
While credit is due to Etcheverry, the reigning Rio ATP 500 champion, for his spirited second-set resurgence — rallying four straight games from 0-1 down — Alcaraz’s shot selection faltered. The Spaniard, at times overly ambitious, stuck to his aggressive game plan. However, he regained his composure in the deciding set, setting up a quarter-final showdown with eighth seed Alexander Bublik.
Alcaraz’s fierce competitor, Jannik Sinner, remains in the running for the World No. 1 rank as well, eyeing a Monte-Carlo title that could shift the rankings. Sinner overcame a tough three-set encounter against Tomas Machac earlier, paving the way for Alcaraz’s determined victory.
The latter two sets contrasted sharply with the opener, which saw Alcaraz sweep through after winning the first eight points. With coach Samuel Lopez’s passionate advice from the sidelines, the Spaniard found his footing again, delivering 13 winners in the final set to extend his clay-court winning streak to 15 matches.
Alcaraz also claimed clay titles last year in Rome and at Roland Garros, where he heroically saved three championship points against Sinner in a thrilling five-set final.
In related news, Alcaraz’s quarter-final opponent, Bublik, showcased a stellar performance to secure his spot as well. The Kazakhstani star, echoing Federer’s finesse, took down Jiri Lehecka with a commanding 6-2, 7-5 win in just 75 minutes.
Bublik delivered a memorable one-handed backhand winner in the first set and navigated a tight second, marking his first trip to the Monte-Carlo quarter-finals. With an impressive 18-5 record on clay since the start of last year, Bublik is fresh off significant victories in Gstaad and Kitzbuehel, following his quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros in 2025.
