Carlos Alcaraz has praised his fighting spirit after edging past Arthur Fils in a Monte-Carlo classic.
The Spaniard made a slow start to the contest but gradually improved his level to edge past Arthur Fils 4-6 7-5 6-3.
It’s the first time Alcaraz has reached the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo and had to dig deep for victory.
Speaking after the match Alcaraz praised his fighting spirit after a massive battle that went all the way to the wire, “Well, it was really, really tough,” Alcaraz stated in his press conference.
“I’m not gonna say it was one point to lose, but it was kind of that in the second set. I think his level is pretty high. The strength that he hit the ball, it is amazing. Physically he is one of the most physical players on the tour, one of the best ones, for sure.
“So, I mean, today I think I didn’t play my best tennis, but I think I played a great tennis. It was about the tennis today, I think. In some moments he made some mistakes in the first or second shot of the point, so I tried to make the most of that free points. Tried to stay there all the time, which I think I did great. And, yeah, one of the most difficult matches that I’ve played this year.
“I mean, it’s just, I don’t know, I think that real champions find the right level, you know, when it’s needed. Obviously I would love to play such a, I mean, a high level on my best tennis from the beginning until the last ball, but I think in tennis we play in two hours, two hours and a half, so it is the most difficult things to do in tennis to maintain your best tennis during two hours and a half. So when it’s needed, it’s great to find the good tennis.
“But, you know, in the whole match, I would love to play a good tennis, but sometimes I’m playing against an opponent who play better, and you have to accept it and run and fight. You know, I think I just, yeah, I just played a good second set, but we both didn’t have chances until the end of the set. So that means that we were playing great tennis, both of us, in the service game, but yeah, I think the real champions find the good tennis in the tough moments.”
It was a much needed win for Alcaraz, who has lost so often when his back is against the wall but has found a way to win.
Now the Spaniard will face compatriot and former finalist Alejandro Davidocvich Fokina for a spot in the Monte-Carlo final.
As for Arthur Fils it was a frustrating afternoon as he missed many opportunities to put the match away.
The Frenchman spoke about how frustrated he was not to win a significant match, “Yes, but it’s frustrating, because I had many opportunities to get ahead in the score and I didn’t make it,” Fils explained in his press conference.
“So there are positive things but there are also negative things. I need to talk with my team and see what I need to improve. I had opportunities and I didn’t convert them. Things turned around very quickly at the end of the second. Between 5-All and 7-5, in a few minutes I didn’t manage the situation well, and as a great champion that he is, he did manage the situation well on his side. So I need to learn from that.
“Well, it’s a tennis match. There are ups and downs. I put pressure on him, but he put pressure on me, and it was his way today. He’s a great champion. Most of those matches are in his favor, and this is how you can see who the best player is.”
Fils enters the rest of the clay court season having reached three consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-finals.
