Monte-Carlo Masters star destroys racket and chucks it in bin during tense Alcaraz clash | Tennis | Sport

Arthur Fils obliterated his racket after handing Carlos Alcaraz a crucial break in their Monte-Carlo Masters showdown. The two young stars were facing off for the first time in their careers in Friday’s quarter-final and it was advantage Fils when he took the first set.

The Frenchman failed to convert a plethora of break points in the second and was taken to a decider. After leading by a break early on, Fils relinquished his advantage and grew frustrated when he gave Alcaraz the chance to serve for the match, destroying his racket and throwing it straight in the bin.

Fils was playing his third consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-final after enjoying deep runs in Indian Wells and Miami last month. The world No. 15 had the upper hand against Alcaraz early on, taking the first set and putting plenty of pressure on the four-time Major winner.

But Alcaraz turned the match around. From 3-1 down in the decider, he broke twice and won the last five games in a row to seal a 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory in two hours and 23 minutes.

Fils’ level started to drop as the set continued and he finally caved after getting broken to trail 5-3. The 20-year-old threw his racket to the ground before standing on it and bending it in half.

He walked back to his bench for the changeover and put the broken racket straight in the bin.

“He’s broken his racket, and has he had his world broken as well? He just seemed to drop his level a fraction,” Nick Lester said on commentary.

Miles Maclagan replied: “I feel he’s been straining to maintain his level for the last few games.”

Fils received a code violation for racket abuse – his second code violation of the match. Commentators questioned whether the French star would be given a point penalty but he wasn’t, and the next game started at 0-0.

“He might be starting the next game at 0-15, because remember, he’s already had a code violation. No. He should be starting at 0-15, this is his second code of conduct warning,” Maclagan added.

But it didn’t make a difference – Alcaraz swiftly closed out the match and pulled off the comeback, reaching the semi-final in Monaco for the first time.

Afterwards, the Spaniard said: “I just wanted to stay strong, just waiting for my chances. In the first set, he started playing well, probably a few mistakes from my side.

“But I think his level is pretty high right now. He puts a lot of pressure on his opponents. Today, I could just feel it.

“But I think it some moments he just made a few mistakes that I tried to make the most of, free points, and just trying to wait for my chances. I tried to take it.”