Carlos Alcaraz was pushed hard on Thursday but he found a way to continue his quest for Olympic glory. The Spaniard recovered from a slump at the start of the second set to overcome American Tommy Paul 6-3, 7-6(7) and reach the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics, guaranteeing him the chance to play for a medal.
The 21-year-old entered the match having earned three consecutive straight-sets wins in singles. The second seed was tested by the American, who beat Alcaraz in Montreal and Toronto in the past. However, as fans have become accustomed to in his electrifying early career, Alcaraz found a way in the key moments.
Wearing the red and yellow colours of Spain, Alcaraz was dialled-in during the first set and then rallied from 2-5 in the second set. With Paul serving at 5-3, Alcaraz tracked down a ball deep in the forehand corner and unleashed a brutal winner on the run, raising his arm aloft and then finger to his ear after breaking Paul’s serve. His winner brought the vocal Court Philippe Chatrier crowd to their feet and they rose once again when Alcaraz saved one set point at 6/7 in the second-set tie-break when he tracked down a drop shot to flick a backhand down the line.
Alcaraz then sealed victory on his second match point to become the fifth Spaniard to reach the men’s singles semi-finals since the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
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Alcaraz, who struck 22 winners in his two-hour one-minute victory, will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals after the Canadian beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3. The No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is the youngest semi-finalist in the men’s singles event since Novak Djokovic in Beijing in 2008.
Alcaraz now leads Paul 4-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having defeated the World No. 13 en route to the title at Wimbledon last month. Alcaraz triumphed on Court Philippe Chatrier earlier this season when he clinched his maiden Roland Garros crown. He is making his Olympic debut and will have the chance to compete for a medal. If he wins his semi-final he will play for gold and if he loses he will play for bronze.
Alcaraz suffered a disappointing defeat in doubles on Wednesday evening alongside countryman and legend Rafael Nadal. The Spaniards lost to Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in straight sets but Alcaraz did not let that setback deter him against Paul, with the 21-year-old digging deep to reach the semi-finals.
Later on Thursday, Auger-Aliassime eventually moved past Ruud in three sets. The No. 19 player in the PIF ATP Rankings failed to convert one match point in the second-set tie-break at 6/5 but responded with an impressive display in the decider to advance.
The 23-year-old struck 12 winners in the third set and did not face a break point to triumph after two hours and 49 minutes. Auger-Aliassime’s best result this season came in Madrid where he reached the final.
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