Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both secured their spots in the quarterfinals of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Thursday, albeit through hard-fought victories. In a matchup against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alcaraz showed resilience, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 after a spirited contest lasting two hours and 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Sinner faced a challenging opponent in Tomas Machac, overcoming an apparent back issue to triumph 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3 in just over two hours.
Sinner, currently ranked second in the world, acknowledged the difficulties he faced during his match, stating, “I think I can be happy. Not every day is the same. I was struggling a little bit. I was a bit tired. I hope that I can recover as much as I can for tomorrow. The most important thing today was to try and get through somehow.” Sinner emphasized his commitment to performing his best, aiming for a strong showing in the upcoming rounds.
The quarterfinals will feature Sinner against Felix Auger-Aliassime, who benefited from a retirement from Casper Ruud while leading 7-5, 2-2. Alcaraz will face Alexander Bublik, who secured his place in the last eight by defeating Jiri Lehecka with a score of 6-2, 7-5.
In addition to these prominent matches, other notable winners in Thursday’s action included Joao Fonseca, Alexander Zverev, and Alex de Minaur. Fonseca and Zverev are set to clash in the next round, while De Minaur awaits the victor of the match between Valentin Vacherot and Hubert Hurkacz. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming battles, highlighting the talent and determination of each competitor on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo.
