Carlos ignores slow start to notch Monte Carlo semis

Carlos Alcaraz used his drop shots with efficiency to stave off a French challenge with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Arthur Fils on Friday for a place in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals.

The second seed who had never won a match here prior to this edition will aim for the final on a rain-threatened Sunday against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who dismissed Australian Alexei Popyrin -6-3, 6-2.

Alcaraz got away poorly for a third consecutive match at the Country Club but quickly made up for his errors with a comeback over nearly two and a half hours on the clay.

The 21-year-old and his 20 year old opponent were playing the youngest quarter-final here since Novak Djokovic beat Sam Querrey in a 2008 battle of 20-year-olds.

Alcaraz began turning the tables after dropping the opening set against ADF, runner-up here in 2022 against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The seed levelled with a winning second set and fought form a break down in the third to come through into the final four.

Despite only 18 winners and breaks on five of 14 chances, Alcaraz was pleased with his showing – and with his near-perfect run of droppers.

“On clay it’s easy to play. I feel confident using it,” he said. “I know I won almost every one I hit. That gave me more confidence to keep on doing it.”

Alcaraz said he approached his comeback calmly.  “I tried to stay strong and wait for some errors. He started well and there were mistakes from my side.

“Fils puts a lot of pressure on opponents. I waited for my chances and tried to take them.

“In the third set I tried to play a good tennis. When I was down I tried to keep going, play aggressive and stay strong mentally and physically.”

Alcaraz won his only previous match against ADF, in Barcelona two years ago on clay.