Alcaraz Wins Big in Return to Monte-Carlo Semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive performance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing only three games as he defeated Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-0 on Friday to reach the semifinals in Monaco for the second year in a row.

"I started the match quite well. I had the chance to get two breaks ahead, but I didn't, and then I lost my feeling for the ball," Alcaraz said after the match.

"I had to move a lot to the sides, had to defend, and then a few games gave me a lot of confidence in the match."

"I played aggressively and played a great, solid match against a player who was unpredictable. I'm happy to be through and playing in the semifinals again here," said the world No.1 player.

Alcaraz suffered a disappointing loss in the third round of the Miami Open to Sebastian Korda last month, but he seemed comfortable returning to the clay courts this week in Monaco.

After defeating Argentine tennis players Sebastian Baez and Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alcaraz passed his test against eighth-seed Bublik, who faced the Spanish player for the first time.

In the opening set, watched by soccer star Paolo Di Canio, Alcaraz overcame Bublik's variety of shots with an exchange of balls to level the score. He then cruised in the second set to achieve his 300th win at the tour level, according to the ATP win-loss index.

Alcaraz now needs just two more wins to defend his title in Monte-Carlo, after defeating Lorenzo Musetti in last year's final to win his first ATP Masters 1000 clay-court title.

The 20-year-old has won 16 consecutive matches on clay, including last year's victories in Rome and at Roland Garros, where he defeated Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz will next face fifth-seed Alex de Minaur or Monaco's Valentin Vacherot in the semifinals on Saturday.

The top seed is seeking his third trophy of 2026, after completing a Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January and winning the ATP 500 title in Doha.

As the world's top-ranked player, Alcaraz is looking to continue his dominion in the Monte-Carlo Masters.