Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are one win away from securing the 20th consecutive title with both of them in the draw: 10-9 to the Italian. The Monte Carlo Masters 1000 could see a historic final with everything on the line: the title — tied at 26 — and the world number one ranking next Monday. There is a tie at 66 weeks.
Alcaraz and Sinner will have to beat Alex de Minaur or Valentin Vacherot, and Alexander Zverev, third in the rankings. The Spaniard and the Italian ended the resistance of two other top 10 players on Friday, with Alexander Bublik (6-3, 6-0) and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Carlitos had a lot to celebrate against Bublik. He became the third player to reach 300 victories with fewer matches, equalling the mark of John McEnroe (300-67). Only Rod Laver (300-55) and Jimmy Connors (300-63) were faster.
The last edition of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 was a turning point in Alcaraz’s consistency. Since then, he has reached 14 semifinals in 16 tournaments played
Despite this, he could lose the number one ranking because Sinner is immaculate in the Masters 1000, the second category of tennis after the Grand Slams. The difference is 240 points.
Fast start
Carlitos started the quarter-finals with a break and four balls at 3-0. Bublik, in the first meeting between the two, seemed unable to cope with the weight of the ball from the seven-time Grand Slam winner
The phenomenon of El Palmar got the Kazakh into the match with two consecutive double faults, a prelude to 2-2. Alexander went ahead 3-2 and was already another player. “Use the service line, come on. The serve with nerve, controlling the percentage. We continue to review things: small court and big court. I want to see you how you encourage yourself,” Samuel Lopez warned his pupil
Ten games in a row
Bublik, who struggles to slide on clay, depends too much on his first serve. When it dropped, the reigning champion’s hierarchy got the better of him. A double fault by Alexander gave the Spaniard his fourth break and sixth game in a row. It was ten in a row. It was the 21st bagel of the Spaniard’s career.
“We played on the worst surface for me. Let’s see on grass,” challenged the defeated player at the net.
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