Alcaraz brings Monfils’ nightmare to life

The nightmare scenario of Gael Monfils came to pass as Carlos Alcaraz took revenge for an upset loss two months ago with a 6-4, 7-5 defeat of the Frenchman to move into the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals.

After stunning the Spaniard in an August second-round Cincinnati shock, the 38-year-old Monfils predicted he would have no chance in the re-match.

That prognostication came to pass, with Alcaraz, 21 and a former world No. 1, dishing out his punishment with 22 winners and two break of serve in less than 90 minutes.

Alcaraz has now won his last 12 matches and is into his first quarter-final here.

“I tried in this match to stay calm, to control my emotions and wait for my chances,” he said after winning his 51st match of 2024.

“I had a few opportunities to break his serve at the beginning of the second set [and] I couldn’t take them. In those times, I tried to stay calm and think ‘I am going to have more’.

”That helped me a lot to show my best tennis during the match. I am feeling the ball really well, much more than I was during the American swing. 

“I’m happy to be able to do it and keep going.”

Alcaraz and top seeded rival Jannik Sinner could meet in a semi-final by winning their next matches; Alcaraz won their meeting a week ago in the Beijing final.

“It’s a great goal to reach the semi-finals, let’s see if he can make it as well,” Alcaraz said of the possible Sinner clash.

“I’ve been watching his matches before mine, he’s playing at a great level, and it helps me to put on a good show before I step on the court.”