Alexander Zverev secured his spot in a fourth consecutive Masters 1000 semifinal when he held off Joao Fonseca 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Friday afternoon.
Zverev, who advanced in two hours and 40 minutes, reached the last four in both Indian Wells and Miami while also doing the same last fall at the Paris Indoors. It was especially difficult to accomplish the feat in Monte-Carlo, though, as the German’s week also includes a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Cristian Garin from a double-break down in the third set.
Fonseca was playing in his first-ever Masters 1000 quarterfinal. The 19-year-old Brazilian’s successful appearance in the principality featured wins over Gabriel Diallo, Arthur Rinderknech, and Matteo Berretttini.
“It’s the first week on clay for all of us, so it’s not going to be easy,” Zverev noted. “It’s not going to be the prettiest tennis. I won and I’m in the semifinals, and I’m super happy with that. I feel like the best set of tennis was the third set for me, so that shows improvement.
“That’s the most important thing this week — to show improvement and to finesse my aggressive game, because I’m struggling a little bit more on clay than I was on hard courts with that. Overall, I’m in the semis and I’m happy about it.”
The world No. 3 will go up against Jannik Sinner on Saturday. Sinner defeated Zverev in the semis in Paris, Indian Wells, and Miami — all in straight sets.