World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets on Friday to reach the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals, setting up a high-profile clash with Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
Sinner delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory to extend his winning streak at ATP Masters 1000 events to 20 matches, underlining his growing dominance on the tour. The Italian dropped just seven points on serve in a clinical opening set and secured the advantage with a break in the sixth game.
The four-time Grand Slam champion maintained control in the second set, breaking early and closing out his fifth consecutive win over Auger-Aliassime. The result continues Sinner’s strong form following his “Sunshine Double” triumphs at Indian Wells and the Miami Open earlier this season.
“I feel like it was a step forwards today,” Sinner said after the match. “It was a very tough match. I knew I had to get better in certain areas. The serve is not there yet, where I would love it to be, but all things considered I’m very happy… very happy to be back in the semis.”
Despite his dominance in hard-court Masters events, Sinner is still searching for his first title at an elite clay-court tournament. However, he will enter the semi-final as favourite against Zverev, having won their last seven meetings.
Zverev, the world number three, advanced after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 victory over Brazil’s rising teenager João Fonseca. The German reached the Monte Carlo semi-finals for the third time and is targeting his first ATP title since winning in Munich last year.
Fonseca, competing in his first Masters quarter-final, impressed with powerful baseline play and briefly forced a decider after taking the second-set tie-break. However, Zverev’s experience proved decisive as he broke in the sixth game of the third set before serving out the match.
The victory also keeps Zverev on track for a potential career sweep of clay-court Masters 1000 titles, having previously won in Madrid and Rome.
Later on Friday, top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces Alexander Bublik, while Alex de Minaur meets Valentin Vacherot in the remaining quarter-final ties. A potential Sinner-Alcaraz final remains possible as the tournament heads into its decisive stage.