On Wednesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the court to face Francisco Cerundolo. By doing that, he reached a new milestone—100 tour-level matches on clay. That’s no small feat for a 21-year-old. And now, he’s looking to make another mark. For the first time in his career, he’s aiming to win a clay Masters 1000 title outside of Madrid. Standing in his way? A fearless French talent—Arthur Fils.

This will be only Alcaraz’s second time competing in Monte Carlo. He’s already off to a strong start, and the quarterfinals are within reach. But Fils isn’t just another name on the draw. He’s been turning heads all year, and he’s chasing his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Let’s break down what to expect.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Arthur Fils: Preview

Alcaraz has had a mixed 2025 season. He holds a solid 15-4 record so far. His biggest moment came in February when he lifted the trophy at the Rotterdam Open. However, the Spaniard failed to win a title at the Sunshine Double for the first time since 2021. His run at Indian Wells ended in the semi-finals. Jack Draper stopped him in three sets. In Miami, David Goffin stunned him in the opening round, delivering one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Still, Alcaraz is back where he’s most comfortable—on clay. He got past Francisco Cerundolo in his opener, then crushed German qualifier Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-1.

Arthur Fils is just 20, but he’s already proving he belongs on the big stage. He reached the quarterfinals at both Indian Wells and Miami last month. Those results put him in the spotlight. In Monte Carlo, he’s kept up the momentum. Fils started with a three-set win over Tallon Griekspoor. He followed that up with a straight-sets victory over Flavio Cobolli. But the big breakthrough came next. He defeated the 2023 champion, Andrey Rublev, 6-2, 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Arthur Fils: Head-to-Head

This will be the first time Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils face each other. That makes the matchup even more intriguing.

Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz in three sets

Alcaraz brings heavy topspin, smart shot selection, and world-class movement. His drop shots and ability to switch from defense to attack are his biggest weapons. He has also been solid on serve. In his last match, he saved 9 of 10 break points and converted 5 break chances of his own. Fils, on the other hand, is all about first-strike tennis. He won 81% of his first-serve points in his last match. He was fearless coming to the net. Against Rublev, he played with intensity from start to finish.

The Spaniard may look to neutralize Fils’ power by using depth on his groundstrokes. He could bring out the drop shot to pull Fils forward and create space. His second-serve win rate (63%) is better than Fils’ 56%, which could give him an edge in longer service games. The Frenchman needs to control points early. He has a 62% first-serve accuracy, and that will be crucial. If he can land that serve and back it up with his forehand, he can trouble Alcaraz.

He should also look to attack Alcaraz’s second serve with his backhand down the line, where he has had success before. But the real test will be sustaining that level over three sets. Alcaraz has more experience with clay. The 21-year-old knows how to survive long rallies and how to adapt mid-match. It won’t be easy, but Alcaraz has the tools to grind it out. Fils will push him early with aggressive play. But Alcaraz’s calm under pressure and ability to turn defense into offense should see him through. This match could be one of the best of the tournament but expect Alcaraz to close it out.