Overview
- Both contenders advanced on Thursday, with Jannik Sinner beating Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-3 and Carlos Alcaraz defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
- Sinner’s run of 37 straight sets won at Masters 1000 events ended in the second set against Machac, though he closed out the match in the third.
- The Italian said he was tired and stressed recovery, adding he expects to take time off after Monte Carlo before Madrid rather than pack in more early clay events.
- The No. 1 race remains tight, with Alcaraz holding a narrow lead and Sinner able to pass him with a deeper run this week, while Alcaraz is slated to add points in Barcelona as Sinner rests.
- Next up, Sinner faces Felix Auger-Aliassime after Casper Ruud retired in their match, and Alcaraz plays Alexander Bublik in a Monte Carlo quarterfinal that carries big ranking value as a top-tier Masters 1000 on clay.