Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both dropped sets on their way to the quarter-finals at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Starting with Sinner, the Italian came through a three set battle with Tomas Machac as he won 6-1 6-7(3) 6-3.
The Italian had won his previous 18 matches at Masters 1000 level in straight sets but that run came to an end at the hands of Machac as he dropped the second set on a tiebreak.
However, Sinner was too strong in the final set as he prevailed to reach the final eight in Monaco.
After the match Sinner was happy to win amid strong opposition from Machac, “I think I can be happy,” the Italian told the ATP website.
“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. I try to do the best I can every match I play. The most important thing today was to try and get through somehow.
“I felt great before the match. In the second set I struggled a bit to find the right energy, but this can happen. I tried to push myself through, which I have done. Even when you don’t feel your best, you try to find ways and that was the case today and I am happy. The main priority is to recover.
“I can play great tennis tomorrow hopefully. I just try to perform in the best possible way and today is a positive.”
Next up for Sinner is Felix Auger-Aliassime as the Italian bids for his first Masters 1000 clay court title of his career.
Should Sinner win the title in Monaco then he will become the new world number one, overtaking Alcaraz.
Alcaraz Edges Past Martin Etcheverry, Bublik Awaits
Speaking of Alcaraz, the defending champion also had a testing contest as he took on Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Court Rainier III.
The Spaniard overcame an error-prone second set to defeat the Argentinian 6-1 4-6 6-3 as Alcaraz moved into the final eight.
Despite hitting 23 unforced errors in the second set Alcaraz was pleased with his third round victory, “I was playing really well in the first set. I was feeling the ball 10/10,” Alcaraz told the ATP website.
“Then I started pretty well in the second set as well and had a chance to break his serve in the second game, but I didn’t take it. When you don’t take the opportunities at this level, you have to run back. He played more aggressive after that, but I would say it was a great fight in the end.”
Alcaraz will now face Alexander Bublik in the quarter-finals after the Kazakh defeated Jiri Lehecka 6-2 7-5 in 75 minutes,
