Carlos Alcaraz says sorry to Alexander Bublik right after their match at the Monte Carlo Masters.
After a strong 6-3, 6-0 win, Carlos Alcaraz could be heard saying sorry to his opponent, Alexander Bublik. The Spanish star is now through to the Monte-Carlo Masters semi-final.
It was an easy win for Alcaraz, the defending champ, who will face either Alex de Minaur or Valentin Vacherot on Saturday. The 22-year-old started well, taking a 2-0 lead. But Bublik fought back, winning three games in a row. Still, Alcaraz came back even stronger, winning 10 games in a row on Court Rainier III and marking his 300th win at the tour level.
Alcaraz reached this big milestone in just 367 matches, making him the third-fastest player ever to get 300 wins. Only Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors did it faster.
During the match, Bublik seemed a bit overwhelmed as Alcaraz played some amazing shots. But when the match ended, Bublik was very sportsmanlike. When they met at the net, Alcaraz apologized, saying, “Sorry, man.” Bublik smiled and said it was okay, wishing Alcaraz good luck for the rest of the tournament. He even joked about the tough conditions, saying, “We played in my worst conditions possible, bro.” Alcaraz laughed and replied, “Hope to cross paths with you on the grass.”
After the match, Alcaraz talked about his game. “I started well,” he said. “I had chances to get two breaks but missed them and lost a bit of touch. Then I had to move a lot and defend a lot. But some good games gave me confidence, and I played aggressively. It was a solid match against a player who can surprise you.”
Alcaraz added, “I’m happy to make it to another semi-final here.”
He’s just two wins away from defending his Monte-Carlo title, which he won last year by beating Lorenzo Musetti. He’s got a 16-match winning streak on clay too.
The world number one also completed the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open this January and won the ATP 500 in Doha. He’s hoping to add more trophies soon!