Carlos Alcaraz, over the victory against Fils: “The champions find the level when they need it” | ATP Tour

Montecarlo

Alcaraz, about the victory against Fils: “The champions find the level when they need it”

The Spanish defeated Fils in three sets to reach the semifinals in the Principality

April 11, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz did not have everything in his hands on Friday against Arthur Fils, but found a way to reach for the first time the semifinals of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

After her worked victory in three sets, the Spanish reflected on her champion mentality. “I think the true champions find the right level when necessary,” Alcaraz said at his press conference after the game. “I would obviously love to play a high level and my best tennis from the beginning to the last ball, but I think that in tennis we play for two and a half hours, so it is the most difficult to do, maintain your best tennis.”

“When you need, it’s great to find good tennis. But sometimes play against a rival who is playing better and you have to accept and run and fight.”

Alcaraz has become an experienced champion in the first bars of his historic race. The 21 -year -old Spanish, four times Grand Slam champion, pursues his sixth ATP Masters 1000 trophy this week.

However, despite all his successes in the elite, his performance this week in Montecarlo is an unknown territory for Alcaraz. It is his second participation in the Principality, where he fell in the first round against Sebastian Korda in 2022.

“I am still super young and I will live new experiences and learn about them, but I feel that I know how to face situations that probably other players do not. It’s my second time [jugando] here and being able to play a semifinal for the first time makes me grow as a player, as a person, “said Alcaraz.” Each game is new, it is different and [yo] I have to learn from the games that I am playing here. “

The Spanish will face his compatriot and former finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday. Alcaraz revealed that he maintains a close friendship with the 25 -year -old, but that he will put aside his relationship when they face for the second time in his series Lexus ATP Head2head.

“He invited me to his wedding. He is a friend,” Alcaraz said about Davidovich Fokina. “See you for a long time. I used to play with my older brother when they were younger.”

“I know him quite well. I have played several times against him. I play a lot with him. So he will be interesting. It will not be easy, it is never easy to play against a friend, but this is tennis. Once you enter the track, there are no friends.”

Alcaraz has a 18-4 mark in the season, highlighting his title in Rotterdam. If the trophy wins in Montecarlo, on Monday will surpass Alexander Zverev in No. 2 of the PIF ATP Rankings.