Prossimo articoloSinner Into the Montecarlo Final: Zverev Beaten 6-1, 6-4

TIE-BREAKFAST - 10/04 Monte Carlo

Tie-BreakfastApr 10Apr 10, 20266 min

Good morning and welcome back to TIE-Breakfast: all the tennis you need at breakfast.

Ace Cream's daily newsletter during Masters 1000 and Grand Slams, every morning at 8:30.

Today is Friday, April 10, in Monte Carlo it's 08:30 and it's 13 degrees. Alright, let's go.

Today at breakfast

🇮🇹 Sinner overcomes Machac in three sets but loses his streak of 37 consecutive sets at Masters events
🇧🇷 Fonseca crushes Berrettini and reaches his first Masters 1000 quarter-final
🇲🇨 Vacherot makes history: first Monegasque in Monte Carlo quarter-finals in the Open Era
🇪🇸 Alcaraz survives Etcheverry scare, faces Bublik today
🎾 Quarter-finals: the full Friday schedule

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY:

🇮🇹 Sinner Beats Machac But Loses The Streak

Jannik Sinner defeated Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3 in two hours of play, qualifying for the quarter-finals where he will face Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Czech ended Sinner's streak of 37 consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 events, a run that had lasted 186 days since Paris-Bercy last October.

The first set was almost a formality, the kind of tennis you now expect from Sinner when he steps on court with the right focus. Then something shifted in the second: a physical dip, and Machac, who led 5-2, couldn't close out the set but then won the tie-break with a clarity that the first set scoreline hadn't suggested. Perhaps the most telling thing was the reaction in the third: a medical timeout added a layer of tension, but Sinner regained control without drama, as if that blip was already filed away.

🇧🇷 Fonseca Crushes Berrettini And Writes A Piece Of History

Joao Fonseca defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes, reaching the first Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career. The Brazilian dominated with his first serve and broke Berrettini four times with a devastating forehand.

More than Berrettini's defeat, what stands out is the ease with which Fonseca moved on clay in a setting like this. At nineteen, making his Monte Carlo debut, he played with a confidence that impressed everyone. The feeling is that Fonseca would have made life difficult for anyone with that level of tennis.

🇲🇨 Vacherot Makes History For The Principality

Valentin Vacherot defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 in nearly three hours, becoming the first Monegasque player to reach the quarter-finals at Monte Carlo in the Open Era. With this win he climbed to number 19 in the live rankings, a new career-high, six months after winning Shanghai as world number 204.

The fairy tale keeps adding chapters, and the most interesting detail remains his ability to handle long, emotionally charged matches without ever being overwhelmed by the occasion. After eliminating Musetti in the previous round, Vacherot came back from a set down against Hurkacz with the same composure of someone who has already proven he belongs on these stages. On Friday he faces de Minaur, an opponent who will demand an entirely different level of intensity.

🇪🇸 Alcaraz Survives Etcheverry Scare

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, defending his title with an inconsistent performance. In the second set the Spaniard committed 23 unforced errors, temporarily losing the thread of the match before finding himself again in the third.

These are the matches that reveal the difference between talent and consistency, and Alcaraz at this stage of the clay season still seems to be searching for the right rhythm. The first set was nearly flawless, the second raised concerns about a difficult day, and the third restored the image of a player who knows how to escape tough moments even when he's not at his best.

🎾 The Other Round Of 16 Matches: Zverev, Bublik, Auger-Aliassime And De Minaur

Alexander Zverev beat Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5, a more controlled affair compared to the scare against Garin in the previous round. Alexander Bublik eliminated Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-5 in an hour and a quarter, confirming a solid week. Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarters after Casper Ruud retired with a calf problem at 7-5, 2-2. Alex de Minaur dispatched Alexander Blockx 7-5, 7-6(4).

Ruud's retirement is perhaps the bitterest note of the day, as the Norwegian had been playing a good tournament and a quarter-final against Sinner would have carried a different weight. For Auger-Aliassime, the distinction remains of being the first Canadian to reach the quarter-finals in every Masters 1000 on the calendar, a stat that says a lot about his consistency at the highest level.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY:

Fonseca vs Zverev (Court Rainier III, first match from 11:00) - The Brazilian making his Masters quarter-final debut against the world number three. For Fonseca it's uncharted territory, for Zverev a chance to consolidate a run that has so far had more shadows than expected.
Sinner vs Auger-Aliassime (Court Rainier III, second match) - Jannik leads 4-2 in the overall head-to-head, but Auger-Aliassime won the only match played on clay (Madrid 2022, 6-1, 6-2) and also advanced at Madrid 2024 via Sinner's retirement. The Canadian arrives fresh after Ruud's withdrawal, but will need to raise his level compared to what he's shown so far this tournament.
Alcaraz vs Bublik (Court Rainier III, third match) - The defending champion against the most unpredictable Kazakh on tour. Bublik hasn't dropped a set this week and eliminated Monfils and Lehecka with a nonchalance that deserves attention.
De Minaur vs Vacherot (TBD) - The Australian against the hometown hero. For Vacherot it's a day that eight months ago would have seemed like science fiction, for de Minaur a chance to return to the Monte Carlo semi-finals.