History makes room for Carlos Alcaraz in CF de Paris | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

History makes room for Alcaraz in CF de Paris

He is one of eight players with three quarterfinals before turning 22

January 01, 0001

Despite his youth, Carlos Alcaraz continues to place his name at the level of the great myths of this sport. And this Sunday at Roland Garros he managed to become the eighth player in history with three appearances in the quarterfinals of the tournament before turning 22.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Philippe Chatrier 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, in two hours and 19 minutes, to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season in the Grand Slam on clay.

It is a milestone that other players such as Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal, Michael Chang and Novak Djokovic also signed at their age.

Three or more appearances at Roland Garros CF before the age of 22

When the Murcian reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Paris in 2022 (l. to Alexander Zverev) that was his ceiling in the Grand Slam (he had also achieved it at the 2021 US Open). From then on, the Spaniard exploited his talent and chained titles in tournaments in this category: US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023.

“I am very happy with my performance today,” acknowledged Alcaraz. “I think I played at a very high level of tennis. Very focused, without ups and downs in the game. That’s what I had been working on. I am very happy with everything, my serve, my movements, my shots. I know that Felix is ​​a great player and he is playing great tennis. The head-to-head was in his favor and he sought to match it. “I am very happy to have achieved the victory.”

“I think I had to put all the remains I could inside and get involved in the exchanges,” Alcaraz warned. “I feel strong in the rallies, playing five, six or seven shots on each point. I was going to have my chances of breaking his serve and being at good intensity in the match, I think it helped me to have a good rhythm, play my best tennis and defeat him.”

Of course, the semifinals are established as their best result at Roland Garros. Last year he lost in the run-up to the final against the man who would end up lifting the Musketeers Cup, Novak Djokovic. To repeat that mark in 2024, the Spaniard will have to beat the No. 9 favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas, who stopped the Italian Matteo Arnaldi by 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2.

To add his fourth victory in this edition in the French capital, he had to defeat a rival who, until now, had beaten him according to the Lexus ATP Head2Head. However, in the fourth round he was able to tie his head-to-head against Auger-Aliassime 3-3.

The Canadian, who had reached the second week of Roland Garros for the second time in his career, had to finish a match postponed the previous day due to rain on Saturday against No. 15 seed Ben Shelton.

And it was Auger-Aliassime who was the first to impose his law. With a break he surprised the Spaniard at the start. “Rest and legs,” Juan Carlos Ferrero advised his pupil. No sooner said than done. That’s what Alcaraz did to return the break to the Canadian. However, he tuned in to his best tennis to win six of the next eight games and close the set 6-3.

Let Philippe Chatrier tremble! 🦁 @carlosalcaraz | @rolandgarros | #RolandGarros

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The high percentage with the first serve (81%) allowed him not only to emerge afloat but also to dominate in the second set. Of course, in the fourth game he struggled to keep his serve. He had to save one break point and four deuces. “A little more continuity and intensity,” his coach demanded from the box. And, once again, Alcaraz was obedient. He immediately converted a break that allowed him to lead 4-2 in the second set.

Auger-Aliassime, who stopped the match to ask for medical assistance, made a feint to recover the lost distance, but the Spaniard gave no options, converting his fourth break in 12 opportunities and repeating the same result of the initial set (6-3). .

From then on, any possibility for the Canadian was broken, because Alcaraz raised his level in all facets of the game. So much so that he barely missed a game to seal his place in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive time.

Did you know…?

Carlos Alcaraz will guarantee the presence of a Spanish player in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, something that has been happening every season for 27 years. The streak began in 1997, when Spanish tennis had Galo Blanco and Sergi Bruguera (finalist) among the top eight of the Grand Slam on clay.