Carlos Alcaraz was presented in the round of 16 in Shanghai an interesting ballotsince he had in front of him the player who had pushed him the most in all of 2024, no longer on the court, but mentally, Gael Monfils. Was at the Cincinnati Masters 1000when the Murcian left the game and ended up completely outmatched, even ending up breaking a racket. A very strange image for him, which however has been good for him today to avoid it, because the match could have taken on similar overtones, but he has remained serious until he ended up conquering it in two sets to secure your place in the quarterfinals.
In just over an hour and a half, with irregular moments, but with the feeling that at the slightest moment it has been necessary, it has gone up a gear to finish with the resistance of the French. And that has been difficult for him to start, with many unforced errors and without winning a long rally. However, even without shining, he has been saving the tough moments, such as a break ball in the sixth game, and has arrived with options at the key moment. Based on resistance and with some flash he has stood in the ninth game, when he has accelerated to break and finish the sleeve by 6 to 4.
The strategy almost works for Monfils
The second set was quite similar, with the Frenchman serving very well, accumulating ‘aces’ and with a very fast forehand to which the Spaniard could not quite get the point. But the one from El Palmar was better, much better, so much so that When Monfils began to show his age and was slower, Carlos began to be a little more tactical.changing heights and looking for his rival to run. Furthermore, in the rallies his drive worked more and more, but he did not break.
Monfils changed his tactics to play practical, running little, but hitting the ball very hardespecially with the drive and the serve. However, in the eleventh game, when everything seemed headed towards a tiebreak and a repeat of Cincinnati, when they got there after Alcaraz won the first set, lost the second in the tiebreaker and in the third exploded against his weapon.
But this time it was a different story. With 5 equal on the scoreboard and Monfils serving with solvency and three balls to secure the tiebreakerCarlos has raised the level and after two great challenges and a long rallyfinished with a great ball, finished off with two errors from the French, he made the break and in the next game, with a serve that today has been his great weapon, closed the game in a big way to ward off bad omens. Now in the quarterfinals The winner of the duel between Tommy Paul and Thomas Machac will be measured.