Alexander Zverev is back in the Monte Carlo semi-finals, but the third seed had to dig deep to get there. On Friday, he overcame a spirited challenge from Brazilian teenager João Fonseca, securing a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 victory in two hours and forty minutes.

The match was a classic clay-court battle of experience versus youthful exuberance. Zverev, a two-time finalist at the event, seemed in control after taking the first set and building a 3-1 lead in the second. However, the 19-year-old Fonseca showcased his fearless talent, roaring back to claim the second set in a tiebreak and force a decider.

Undeterred, Zverev relied on his powerful serve and baseline consistency to regain momentum. He secured the crucial break for a 4-2 lead in the final set and closed out the match on his second opportunity, booking his third career semi-final spot in Monte Carlo.

"It's the first week on clay for all of us so it is not always the best tennis," Zverev said after the match. "The timing is lacking here and there but there is improvement. I am very happy to be in the semi-finals."

The win sets up a blockbuster rematch in the final four. Zverev will next face the winner between world number two Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Sinner presents a familiar hurdle, having defeated Zverev in straight sets during the semi-finals of both Indian Wells and Miami last month, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this clay-court showdown.