PAP / EPA / JOHN G. MABANGLO / Pictured: Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz finished the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on hard courts in Indian Wells. On Thursday evening, the Spaniard beat Félix Auger-Aliassime, with whom he had lost all previous duels.
Carlos Alcaraz had suffered defeats in his three previous matches against Félix Auger-Aliassime. On his fourth attempt, he finally found a way to beat the Canadian. Thursday night, the Spaniard won 6-4, 6-4 and qualified for the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
From the start of the match, Alcaraz presented more varied tennis. The top-seeded Spaniard changed the pace of the action more often and attacked at the net, and also worked brilliantly from the baseline and served efficiently.
In the first set, the decisive moment came in the fifth game, when Alcaraz showed a fantastic backhand pass from a break point. In the second set, after a period of weaker play, where the two jointly gave their own applications, the Spaniard got back on track faster. As a result, at 5:4 he broke again and ended the duel.
“I knew I would have my chances in this game. I just had to use them. I played one of my best games of 2023. I’m happy and I want to move on,” said said the 19-year-old Murcian, who had two aces, three breaks and 26 knockouts in two hours of play.
If Alcaraz wins the title in Indian Wells, he will return to the top of the world rankings. His next opponent on the way to this goal will be number 11. Jannik Sinner. He has faced the Italian four times in the main series so far and the record of the clash is a draw, but the Spaniard has won both of his matches on hard courts.
BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells (USA)
ATP Masters 1000, Hard Court, $8.8 million prize pool
Thursday March 16
singles quarter-final:
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain, 1) v Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada, 8) 6-4, 6-4
Men’s tournament schedule and results
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