Carlos Alcaraz might be one of the most thrilling tennis players on the planet right now—but he’s also putting everyone around him on edge, especially his dad.
At the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters, Alcaraz has powered his way to the semifinals, but not without sending pulses soaring and nerves fraying. Despite his position among the last four standing, the 21-year-old Spaniard has made a habit of digging himself into trouble before launching thrilling comebacks.
His quarterfinal clash against Arthur Fils was another rollercoaster. After losing the first set and facing triple break point at 5-5 in the second, it looked like Alcaraz might be heading home early. But as he’s done so many times before, he flipped the script, clawed his way back, and sealed a dramatic victory to set up a semifinal rematch with Francisco Cerundolo.
In his post-match press conference, a reporter pointed out the obvious trend—Alcaraz often waits until he’s on the brink before summoning his best tennis. With a chuckle, the young star admitted it’s become a recurring conversation with his team.
“Yeah… I know. I think for my health and my team’s health, it’s important to play the best points a little bit earlier,” Alcaraz said with a grin. “You know, probably a few times my team and my dad told me that he’s probably gonna get a heart attack sometimes.”
While the moment drew laughs, Alcaraz then turned philosophical, reflecting on what separates good players from great ones.
“I think real champions find the right level when it’s needed. Obviously, I’d love to play my best tennis from the first ball to the last. But that’s the hardest thing in tennis—to sustain that level for two, two-and-a-half hours. So when you can find your peak in the tightest moments, that’s what matters most.”
It’s a telling mindset from someone so young, yet so accomplished. Alcaraz already holds four Grand Slam titles and is chasing his sixth Masters 1000 trophy—his third on clay.
He also acknowledged the challenge of facing equally inspired opponents.
“Sometimes, the guy on the other side of the net is just playing better. You’ve got to accept that, run, fight, and find your way back into the match.”
The Monte-Carlo Masters has historically been tricky terrain for Alcaraz—this is only his second appearance, and before this year, he hadn’t won a main draw match here. Now, with Novak Djokovic and three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas out of the picture, the path to the title looks more open than ever.
Still, if Alcaraz’s Monte-Carlo campaign so far is any indication, it won’t be smooth sailing. But that’s exactly what makes watching him such a heart-racing experience—and perhaps why his father might want to keep the blood pressure monitor close by.
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