Alcaraz sees off Monfils with ease in Miami

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed, moved into the last 16 of the Miami Masters by winning against Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-4 at the Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night.

Despite the one-sided score line, the match produced some incredible points between two of the best athletes in the game. At one stage Monfils was caught having an exchange with his box, saying how crazy it is that Alcaraz is “everywhere” on the court.

“I need to go really big, I cannot pass him,” said Monfils.

“He’s everywhere!” responded his coach.

It’s safe to say that Alcaraz is back to his very best this Sunshine Double, after going titleless between Wimbledon and Indian Wells. No surprise that he signed the camera, “Feel the magic” after his victory.

Alcaraz motivated by Butler and Neymar

Speaking to the media after his win over Monfils, Alcaraz confessed that he was also motivated by the attendance of football player Neymar and basketball star Jimmy Butler at his match as well.

“Seeing them watching my game, obviously it’s, let’s say, some motivation for me just to raise the level, try to make them enjoy watching my game,” said Alcaraz.

The Spaniard also revealed that playing against Monfils, he has no issues implementing his policy of smiling on the tennis court.

“I always say that for me it’s really important to smile on the court, and thanks to that, I can bring my best tennis,” explained Alcaraz. “You know, someone like Gael, an entertainment guy, player, it’s easier, you know, to smile on the court, to enjoy the game. Yeah, let’s say it’s different.”

Alcaraz, ranked No 2, will play the winner of the match between Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 23 seed, and American Ben Shelton, the No 16 seed, next.

Ahead of his victory, the 20-year-old Spaniard beat Roberto Carballes Baena (6-2, 6-1).

Monfils, ranked No 47, defeated Serb Dusan Lajovic (7-6 (5), 6-4) and Australian Jordan Thompson, the No 33 seed (6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

Miami Masters 1000, other third-round results (Hard Rock Stadium, hard, USD 10.404.205, most recent results first):

• Lorenzo Musetti vs. Ben Shelton: monday
• Grigor Dimitrov (11) beat Yannick Hanfmann: 6-1, 6-0
• Hubert Hurkacz (8) beat Sebastian Korda (28): 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3
• Alex De Minaur (9) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (24): 7-6 (3), 6-4
• Alexander Zverev (4) beat Christopher Eubanks (31): 7-6 (4), 6-3
• Fabian Marozsan beat Alexei Popyrin: 7-5, 6-3
• Karen Khachanov (15) beat Francisco Cerundolo (20): 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
• Daniil Medvedev (3) beat Cameron Norrie (30): 7-5, 6-1
• Dominik Koepfer beat Ugo Humbert (14): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• Casper Ruud (7) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (27): 6-3, 6-4
• Nicolas Jarry (22) beat Thiago Seyboth Wild (Q): 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-3
• Christopher O’Connell beat Martin Damm (WC): 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Denis Shapovalov: 6-3, 7-6 (7)
• Tomas Machac beat Andy Murray: 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
• Jannik Sinner (2) beat Tallon Griekspoor (25): 5-7, 7-5, 6-1