Carlos Alcaraz battled through a rollercoaster quarter-final to reach his first-ever semi-final at the Monte-Carlo Masters, defeating Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The world No. 3 fought back from a break down in the final set, winning five consecutive games to seal the victory.
Despite the win, Alcaraz showed visible signs of frustration during the match — including an outburst after losing a point early in the second set. Afterward, he opened up about his emotions on court and revealed how talking to his team, especially his coach Samuel Lopez, helps him stay grounded.
“I’m a person who needs to talk to someone I trust when I face tough situations,” Alcaraz said. “The anger I feel inside — I have to get it out somehow. Talking to Samuel gives me a better perspective. He can see things from the outside and give advice on what I should do, or even how to project my emotions to the opponent.”
Alcaraz described the match as “one of the most difficult” he’s played this year. He saved all seven break points in the second set and had to dig deep mentally and physically to turn the match around.
The 21-year-old also joked about the emotional toll his matches are taking on his team — especially his father.
“For my health and my team’s health, I probably need to start playing my best points a little earlier,” he laughed. “My dad told me he’s going to have a heart attack one of these days.”
Despite the rocky start, Alcaraz stressed the importance of stepping up when it matters most.
“Real champions find their best tennis when it’s needed,” he said. “Of course, I’d love to play at a high level from the first ball to the last, but in a match that lasts over two hours, it’s not always possible. Sometimes your opponent plays better, and you just have to accept it and keep fighting.”
Now, Alcaraz will prepare to face fellow Spaniard and friend Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semi-final. Davidovich Fokina is a former finalist in Monte-Carlo, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their showdown.
