Carlos Alcaraz produced a performance for the ages in his French Open quarter-final win against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Spanish sensation admits it was “one of the best matches of my career” as he prepares to take on Novak Djokovic for a place in the final of Roland-Garros.
Carlos Alcaraz displayed an exceptional performance with an impressive straight-sets 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) triumph over Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up an appealing battle with Novak Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals on Friday, with a place in the final of Roland-Garros at stake.
The 20-year-old is the world No. 1 and top seed in France as he seeks his second Grand Slam title and first on the famous red dirt in Paris.
And his display on Tuesday had all the hallmarks of a champion. At times it felt like an exhibition match as the top seed brushed aside the fifth seed.
The match between Alcaraz and Tsitsipas, pitting the first and fifth seeds together, was expected to be tight, but in truth that was rarely the case, with Alcaraz putting in a highlight reel of a display that felt like it was taking the game to a new level; Noticeably, Alcaraz’s hybrid game style is comparable to all of the greats (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic) that have come before him.
Eurosport reports that Tsitsipas had begun the encounter with a comprehensive, ace-laden service hold, but that was about as good as it got for the Greek, as Alcaraz put the hammer down thereafter.
He broke Tsitsipas on his fourth break-point opportunity in game three, and then went a double break up later in the set when he took the Greek’s serve to love.
Alcaraz, through wonderful drop shots in back-to-back points, served it out thereafter as he took the opener in style.
In set two the masterclass continued as this time the Spaniard broke three times to double his advantage as he took it 6-1.
Tsitsipas began to celebrate ironically in set three when he won a point, such was Alcaraz’s total dominance of the encounter.
An early break saw the 20-year-old get halfway to the set, but Tsitsipas was battling hard and as Alcaraz served for the set at 5-3, the Greek took the second of his break points, his first such opportunities of the whole night, to suddenly make it interesting.
An early break saw the 20-year-old get halfway to the set, but Tsitsipas was battling hard and as Alcaraz served for the set at 5-3, the Greek took the second of his break points, his first such opportunities of the whole night, to suddenly make it interesting.
The third set went all the way to a tie-break as it got the ending it deserved for a more even contest, but it was Alcaraz who pulled away once more, taking it 7-5 and earning his spot to face Djokovic in a semi-final clash that will be watched the world over.
Talking on court afterwards about how he had managed to play so well, Alcaraz said: “Believing in myself, all the time.
“That’s the most important thing, not only for me but for everyone – believe in yourself.
“I always think I’m going to play this kind of matches, in this level, I would say that’s the key to everything, (to play) with enjoyment.”
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