Sinner and Alcaraz Advance to Quarterfinals at Monte-Carlo Masters

Jannik Sinner's streak of 37 consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 level came to an end, but he still managed to defeat Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Sinner, who became the first man to complete the Sunshine Double without dropping a set last month, had also won the Paris Masters title last year. Despite struggling with his energy levels, Sinner recovered to seal victory over his Czech opponent and continue his quest to dethrone current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. "Not every day is the same. I was struggling a little bit, I was a bit tired," Sinner said. "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." Sinner will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals after the sixth seed progressed when Casper Ruud was forced to retire with the Canadian leading 7-5, 2-2. Alcaraz also dropped a set before taking a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry to continue his title defense. The Spaniard fell into an unexpected battle in the second set when he made 23 unforced errors, allowing Etcheverry to storm to a set win and force a third. However, Alcaraz recovered to win the match and will face Alexander Bublik in the quarterfinals. "I was just feeling the ball really well in the first set, hitting the ball like 10 out of 10, I would say," Alcaraz said. "So, and then in the second set, I started playing well as well. I just had chances to break his serve in the second game, but I just didn't take it. And as I say every time, when you don't take the opportunities in this kind of level, you have to run back." Other winners on the day included 19-year-old Joao Fonseca, who eased past Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time, and Alexander Zverev, who defeated Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5 to reach the tournament's last eight for the first time since 2022. Australia's Alex De Minaur took a tight 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) win over qualifier Alexander Blockx, while Valentin Vacherot made history as the first Monegasque in the Open Era to make the top eight in Monaco, following his 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win over Hubert Hurkacz.