The quarter-final stage at the Monte Carlo Masters is here, with eight players looking to book their spot in the last four this weekend. We could also get one step closer to another Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner final.<\/p>\n
19:57 CET – Another chapter has been added to the fairytale of Valentin Vacherot<\/a>!<\/p>\n The home favourite, who won the Shanghai Masters as a qualifier at the end of last year, continues to prove that he wasn’t a flash in the pan, and with the fans firmly behind him, he has defeated Alex de Minaur<\/a> 6-4, 3-6, 6-3<\/a> to seal his spot in the Monte Carlo semi-final.<\/p>\n A stunning story, and he now faces Carlos Alcaraz next.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, the semi-finals are set, and they will take place from 13:30 CET tomorrow.<\/p>\n 19:25 CET –\u00a0It is game on in Monte Carlo as Alex De Minaur<\/a> takes the second set to set up a decider for a place in the last four.<\/p>\n 18:37 CET –\u00a0Valentin Vacherot’s<\/a> dream run is on course to continue! The home player has been loving his week at Monte Carlo and is on course to cause another scalp after his shock win against Lorenzo Musetti earlier in the week.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Monaco star has taken the first set against Alex De Minaur<\/a> 6-4<\/a> after an impressive set of tennis.<\/p>\n 17:50 CET –\u00a0The final quarter-final is now underway with home favourite Valentin Vacherot<\/a> making a flying start against fifth seed Alex De Minaur<\/a>.<\/p>\n Can the dream run continue for Vacherot at his home tournament?<\/p>\n Follow it all live with Flashscore here!<\/a><\/p>\n 17:35 CET – Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> has cruised past Alexander Bublik in the end, in what turned out to be a far more routine win than expected. The world number one didn’t drop a single game in the second set as Bublik fell apart and rolled over.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alcaraz won’t mind one bit of course, that is a comfortable win despite not playing at his best and one in which he didn’t have to come out of second gear.\u00a0<\/p>\n 16:44 CET –\u00a0A bit of a seesaw first set from both players, but Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> has taken it 6-3<\/a> over Alexander Bublik<\/a>. 16 unforced errors from the racket of the latter was not exactly ideal, and neither player has got much rhythm yet.<\/p>\n Not the exciting match we thought it would be so far, but let’s see what unfolds in the second set!<\/p>\n 15:48 CET –\u00a0Jannik Sinner<\/a> just keeps on winning! The Italian was far too good for Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a>, defeating the Canadian 6-3, 6-4<\/a> in just over an hour and a half in Monte Carlo.<\/p>\n It was imperious from Sinner, but he will be a little bit concerned by his first serve percentage, which has fluctuated this tournament. Today, it was at 58%.<\/p>\n He now has 20 victories in a row at 1000 events, and will meet\u00a0Alexander Zverev<\/a> for the fourth straight time in semi-finals at this level!<\/p>\n Sinner has won their last seven meetings in a row, so Zverev will need to find a way to turn the contest on its head.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next up, is Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> vs Alexander Bublik<\/a>. There is a little bit of extra pressure on defending champion Alcaraz, knowing that if he loses, Sinner will take his spot as world number one.<\/p>\n Follow that match live with Flashscore!<\/a><\/p>\n 15:00 CET –\u00a0An excellent set of tennis from Jannik Sinner<\/a> has seen him race into a 6-3<\/a> lead against\u00a0Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Canadian hasn’t been that bad, but Sinner is just totally dominant and keeps forcing Auger-Aliassime onto the defence so often that he is unable to make any inroads at all.<\/p>\n Is there anything he can do to turn this around, or is Sinner cruising into the semi-finals?<\/p>\n 13:54 CET –\u00a0Alexander Zverev<\/a> is back in the Monte Carlo semi-finals for the first time since 2022, after overcoming a real stern challenge from 19-year-old Joao Fonseca<\/a>, 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3<\/a>, in two hours and 41 minutes.<\/p>\n A contest that became a real war of attrition at times – something that often suits Zverev to a T – the German outlasted his opponent in the final set, making it four consecutive appearances in the semi-finals of 1000 events.<\/p>\n Both players weren’t totally fluent, with Zverev making 36 unforced errors and Fonseca 47, but ultimately, it was the former who came out on top.<\/p>\n It has been a mighty impressive week from Fonseca, who reached his first-ever 1000 quarter-final. For the third seed, Zverev, he will now face the winner of the match that is coming up: Jannik Sinner<\/a> vs Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow the second quarter-final with Flashscore!<\/a><\/p>\n 13:16 CET –\u00a0After a thrilling back-and-forth second set, Joao Fonseca<\/a> has forced a decider! The Brazilian was on top for large portions and even broke the third seed to serve for the set.<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev<\/a>, though, responded like a top-three player in the world to force a tiebreak, but Fonseca showcased all of his talent in a brilliant tiebreak performance to take the second set.<\/p>\n So, to a deciding set we go!<\/a><\/p>\n 12:01 CET –\u00a0First blood, Alexander Zverev<\/a>!<\/p>\n It was really tight and competitive opening set, but the German found the break at 5-5 before serving out successfully to take the initiative. Joao Fonseca<\/a> has work to do now.<\/p>\n 11:10 CET – The first quarter-final between Alexander Zverev<\/a> and Joao Fonseca<\/a> is moments away from getting started in Monte Carlo, and we are looking forward to this one!<\/p>\n Follow the clash with Flashscore!<\/a><\/p>\n 09:00 CET –\u00a0Welcome back to our live coverage of the Monte Carlo Masters on quarter-final day, with four fantastic match-ups on the cards.<\/p>\n Play gets underway at 11:00 CET with a really enticing match between third seed\u00a0Alexander Zverev<\/a> and 19-year-old Joao Fonseca<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pair have never played before, and Fonseca is playing in his first 1000 quarter-final. Meanwhile, it is Zverev’s best run in Monaco since reaching the semi-finals in 2022.<\/p>\n That is followed by a meeting between Jannik Sinner<\/a> and Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a>. The former’s record-breaking run of 37 consecutive sets won came to an end against Tomas Machac<\/a> in the third round, and he looked well off his best physically.<\/p>\n Auger-Aliassime will be the big underdog, but if Sinner is struggling again, the Canadian may have a chance. This is his best run at Monte Carlo, while Sinner reached the semis twice in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n Then Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> goes head-to-head with Alexander Bublik<\/a> for the very first time.<\/p>\n The world number one, who is the defending champion and looking to retain his place at the summit of the rankings this week, was extremely erratic in his three-set win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/a>, while the mercurial Bublik has been in great form.<\/p>\n Alcaraz will need to be at his best against a very dangerous opponent, who is in his maiden quarter-final at Monte Carlo.<\/p>\n Finally, Monegasque Valentin Vacherot<\/a> will look to keep alive the biggest dream of his tennis career: winning his home tournament.<\/p>\n