“Had to change something,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals key realization after reaching Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals for first time
Carlos Alcaraz is making huge strides toward his first Monte Carlo Masters title in his second appearance in the tournament.
Follow Us
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Tennis Panorama News)
Carlos Alcaraz, in his career’s second match at the Monte-Carlo Masters, dropped a set in the first-round match against Francisco Cerundolo. But that was the only time he has struggled in this tournament so far.
In the second set, Alcaraz turned the table and bageled the Argentine, before restricting him to just one game in the third set. Alcaraz then continued his dominance in the second round as Daniel Altmaier suffered a 6-3, 6-1 defeat.
Following the win, the Spaniard talked about how he was able to turn things around after losing the first set against Cerundolo. Alcaraz said the most important thing for him was to see what was going wrong in the match and make strategies to get back to winning ways.
I think in the first round, in the first set, I couldn’t play aggressively the way I love playing. And I knew that I had to change something to…to go more to the net or play more aggressively. The return, I got closer to the line, I put pressure on his serve game and that’s my style. That’s my game. And I realized that after the first set.
Carlos Alcaraz told Tennis Channel
Alcaraz has now scheduled a quarterfinal match against Arthur Fils, who knocked out 2023 Monte Carlo Masters champion Andrey Rublev in the previous round to tie the head-to-head record against the 27-year-old. The Frenchman, however, has not yet faced Alcaraz in his career.
Fils is the only player this season who has progressed to the quarterfinals of the first three Masters 1000 of the season. Prior to Monte Carlo, he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev and eventual champion Jakub Mensik at Indian Wells and the Miami Open, respectively.
Andy Roddick observes one big change in Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo
Carlos Alcaraz is a winner of eight titles on clay, one of which is the French Open he lifted last year by beating Alexander Zverev in five sets. Alcaraz has taken home more titles on the red dirt than he didn’t on grass and hard courts.
In the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz is the favorite player to win even though so far in the season he produced inconsistent performances, winning just the Rotterdam Open. Andy Roddick, following Alcaraz’s statement win over Daniel Altmaier, analyzed his match and said what’s so different about the 21-year-old’s game in The Principality.
Altmaier was having to play so many good shots and cover so much ground and take so much risk, not to get behind and keep drifting back, because of the weight of shot from Carlos Alcaraz. It is just absurd. He was in full flight. Alcaraz seems forceful in his celebration this week. There is an intensity that maybe we haven’t seen this year.
Andy Roddick said on Tennis Channel
Alcaraz is searching for his first Masters 1000 title since lifting the Indian Wells last year. He lifted four titles the previous season, two of which were the French Open and Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz will become the World No.2 after winning the Monte Carlo Masters
Carlos Alcaraz has the golden opportunity to replace Alexander Zverev from the second position in the rankings. Zverev, who suffered early exits in the tournaments he played since losing the Australian Open final to World No.1 Jannik Sinner, was defeated by Matteo Berrettini in his opening round in Monte Carlo.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has 6,920 in the ATP live rankings, while Zverev sits in second position with 7,595 points. Sinner’s position will face no danger if Alcaraz wins the title as he has 9,930 points in the live rankings. The 23-year-old will be making his comeback at the Italian Open.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)