Carlos Alcaraz has been enjoying his time at the Monte Carlo Masters so far, where he is into the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz is the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters second seed, but is the highest-ranked player remaining after Alexander Zverev’s shock exit.
ATP number two Zverev lost his opener to Matteo Berrettini, having like Alcaraz been handed a bye into round two.
Holger Rune thinks Alcaraz is the best clay player at this moment in time, with the latter boasting plenty of success on the surface.
Among his four Grand Slam wins is a French Open success, while eight of his 17 ATP titles have arrived on clay.
Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty ImagesAndy Roddick notices different Carlos Alcaraz intensity at Monte Carlo Masters
A second round win was secured over Francisco Cerundolo in Monaco, with the Spaniard then beating Daniel Altmaier in the round of 16.
And speaking on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, former world number one Andy Roddick has been analysing the latest victory.
“He had the forehand going both ways,” said Roddick. “Altmaier was having to play so many good shots and cover so much ground and take so much risk, not to get behind and keep drifting back, because of the weight of shot from Carlos Alcaraz.
“It is just absurd. He was in full flight. Alcaraz seems forceful in his celebration this week. There is an intensity that maybe we haven’t seen this year. It definitely feels like he is making a statement early in Monte Carlo.”
Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils results ahead of Monte Carlo Masters clash
Alcaraz now has his toughest test on paper up next, with 12th seed Arthur Fils awaiting in the quarter-finals.
It represents a first career meeting between the pair, in what is set to be a hugely entertaining clash in Monaco.
The young Frenchman has been hugely impressive at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament thus far, having just knocked out seventh seed Andrey Rublev.
Fils currently occupies a career-high rank of 20th in the world, with two of his three ATP titles coming on clay.
Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils 2025 Monte Carlo Masters results
The 20-year-old has emerged victorious in Lyon and Hamburg, having also won on the hard courts of Tokyo
But 21-year-old Alcaraz is undoubtedly the favourite going into the meeting, boasting clay titles from the likes of Madrid and, as mentioned, Roland Garros.