Sinner Battles Through Fatigue To Reach Monte Carlo Quarter-finals

Jannik Sinner overcame a dip in energy and physical discomfort to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday, edging past the erratic Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

The Italian made a blistering start, racing through the opening set with ease, but his intensity dropped in the second as Machac fought back to level the contest via a tie-break. Despite squandering two set points on serve at 5-4, the Czech recovered to snap Sinner’s remarkable run of 36 consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 level.

Sinner, however, regained his composure in the decider, capitalising on Machac’s wayward shot-making to secure a crucial early break before closing out the match in two hours and one minute.

“I was struggling a little bit and felt a bit tired,” Sinner admitted. “The most important thing today was just trying to get through somehow. I lost some energy in the second set, but I managed to push through.”

The world No. 2, who has now won 19 consecutive matches at Masters level, appeared physically troubled at times, repeatedly stretching his back. Ironically, it was Machac who required a medical time-out in the third set for treatment on his left arm.

Sinner will now face sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who progressed after Casper Ruud retired with the Canadian leading 7-5, 2-2.

Elsewhere, 19-year-old Joao Fonseca reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Matteo Berrettini.

Competing in Monte Carlo for the first time, Fonseca delivered a composed and aggressive display to overcome Berrettini, who had stunned Daniil Medvedev in the previous round.

The Brazilian teenager becomes the youngest player to reach this stage at the tournament since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005, and the first from his country to make a Masters quarter-final since Thomaz Bellucci in 2011.

“It is super special. I have been working towards this for a long time,” Fonseca said. “But I want more. I am confident and focused, and I was pleased with how I fought today.”

He will next face world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who advanced with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Zizou Bergs.