Carlos Alcaraz clay-court campaign gained further momentum on Thursday as the Spanish sensation reached his first-ever Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinal with a hard-fought win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.
Alcaraz secured a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory, showcasing his trademark intensity and variety to overcome a tricky opponent.
The 20-year-old Spaniard, who grew up mastering the art of clay-court tennis, was delighted to be back on his favorite surface after a mixed start to the season on hard courts. Reflecting on his performance and progress this year, Carlos Alcaraz expressed both satisfaction and excitement for what lies ahead.
“I’m just really happy to be on clay again,” Carlos Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “It has been a really good season so far. Probably struggling a little bit in the last one, but coming on clay, which is a surface I love playing on and the surface I grew up playing on… it’s great to feel it again.”
This latest victory marks a milestone for Alcaraz, who is competing in Monte Carlo for only the second time. Reaching the quarterfinals not only adds to his growing list of achievements but also underlines his reputation as one of the most dangerous players on clay.
Awaiting Alcaraz in the next round is rising French star Arthur Fils, who has been enjoying a breakthrough season on the ATP Tour. The upcoming match will be the first meeting between the two young talents, adding further intrigue to an already exciting encounter.
“It’s gonna be difficult against Arthur Fils, who’s playing great tennis lately,” Alcaraz said. “He’s having a great season so far. So it’s gonna be an interesting match. I think it’s the first time I’m gonna play him. I think it’ll be beautiful to play, beautiful to watch. Hopefully, the people are gonna enjoy.”
After which, Alcaraz continued his clay-court dominance and took another step toward lifting his first Monte Carlo Masters trophy.