Alcaraz storms into quarters

Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz moved into the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals after beating qualifier Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-1 on Thursday. Alcaraz saved nine of the 10 break points he faced and took five of the seven chances he had.

“Honestly, it was difficult, Danny is playing great,” the third-ranked Alcaraz said. “The score doesn’t show how difficult it was.”

At his first claycourt tournament this season, the Spaniard has won four straight sets for the loss of just five games since dropping the opening set to Francisco Cerundolo in their Round of 32 match.

Alcaraz next plays against Arthur Fils, who won by an impressive 6-2 6-3 against 2023 champion Andrey Rublev in the Round of 16. Fils has advanced to the quarterfinals at three straight Masters events following Indian Wells and Miami last month, and raised his record to 14-6 this season.

Fourth-seeded Casper Ruud lost to Alexei Popyrin 6-4 3-6 7-5 and fifth-seeded Jack Draper was beaten by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4.