MONTE CARLO - Early this week, a stellar field launched their Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 campaign; on Friday, only four men remain in contention for glory in The Principality, with world number three Carlos Alcaraz leading the way.
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz heads for his maiden semifinal at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, his 10th at Masters 1000 level, following a statement comeback victory over world No. 15 Arthur Fils on Friday.
During his post-match press conference, the Roland-Garros reigning champion asserted: “Real champions find the right level when it’s needed.
“I would love to play a high level and my best tennis from the beginning until the last ball, but in tennis, we play for two hours and a half, so it is the most difficult thing to do, to maintain your best tennis.
“It’s great to find good tennis when it is needed. But sometimes, I am playing against an opponent who is playing better, and you have to accept it and run and fight.”
The world number three will clash against countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who earlier in the day put out Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2 in just 69 minutes, advancing to his third Masters 1000 semifinal at tour level.
An all-Spanish duel for a place in the championship match will open singles action on Saturday at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
The four-time major winner leads Davidovich Fokina in their series 1-0.
“I’ve improved as a person, my maturity,” outlined Davidovich Fokina. “When you can control [things] off the court, it’s going to be easier to control your emotions [on the court]. Today has proved [the progress] I am making this year.”
The world No. 42 returns to the semifinals at the tournament for the first time since 2022, when he accomplished his maiden career final.
Popyrin displayed a nearly flawless performance behind his service across the opener, hitting six aces, half the 12 winners he recorded.
Momentum would shift to the Spaniard’s side, as the Australian committed two double faults, his first two in the match (18 unforced errors overall).
Competing in his 25th tour-level quarterfinal, the Malaga native made the most of his chances, pushing forward to take the break with his forehand-forcing shot and holding to take the opener 6-3 in 40 minutes.
The Aussie’s body language translated his frustration after dropping the opener, taking a toll on the player mentally and physically.
The world No. 27 spent 7 hours on court before his quarterfinal matchup.
Eventually, Davidovich Fokina took control of the second set, sailing to a straight-set win, to punch his ticket into the last four.
The other semifinal will feature eighth seed Alex de Minaur against Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
The 9-time ATP titlist dismissed world No. 18 Grigor Dimitrov with a double bagel in just 44 minutes on Court Rainier III.
The top Australian racquet is bidding to win his first tournament on clay, a surface he has yet to master, but he is on his way.
The world No. 10 is also playing doubles at the event, partnering German player Jan-Lennard Struff. The duo advanced to the last four after defeating top seeds Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo.
“As the years have gone by, I have grown to understand the things I can do well to become a tough opponent on this surface. Ism very happy that I am playing better and better every year,” De Minaur stressed.
The 26-year-old from Sydney leads the ATP Tour for most wins this season (19). His best result this season came in Rotterdam, where he made it to the championship match, falling to Alcaraz in three sets.
Meanwhile, the Italian 13th seed ended Stefanos Tsitsipas title defense run with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph to progress into his maiden career Masters 1000 semifinal.
“Today, it was a really tough match. I knew that before today, I had never beaten him, and we played five times. Especially on clay, I knew against a three-time champion, definitely not an easy job today,” Musetti remarked.
“I found a way, and I was increasing during the whole match. Really, happy and proud of this win.”
The 23-year-old, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, fended off 14 of 17 break points en route to earning his first victory in six meetings with the world number eight.
“It’s difficult to accept. I mean, feeling so confident playing on this court and not being able to win a match that I felt I kind of had every reason to try and win is heartbreaking,” the Greek player expressed.
The three-time champion further commented: “The serve was the thing that was kind of missing, but also it didn’t help me when I needed it.
“I was playing with a second serve. The entire second and third set, I was playing with just one serve.”
Musetti has gone from strength to strength since launching his campaign against Chinese player Yunchaokete Bu, recovering from an early scare to prevail in three.
Then, he ousted compatriot Matteo Berrettini in straight sets, a confidence-boosting result in the lead-up to the last eighth.
The former world number six stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in a contest for the sport history books, perhaps the most competitive thus far into the venue, but fell short when facing more than a rival on court, a friend off-court.
De Minaur and Musetti are tied 1-1 in their series; they have never faced one another on clay before.
