PARIS – Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated his superiority once again at the Roland Garros, securing his place in the semifinals for the third consecutive year. His dominant performance left Tommy Paul with no options, who faced physical difficulties during the match.
Alcaraz Sets His Pace
Alcaraz, the second seed, secured a convincing victory with scores of 6-0, 6-1, and 6-4 against Paul, ranked number 12. Paul, visibly affected by issues in his right thigh, was unable to display his usual game, limiting his ability to run, serve, and hit with power.
“I’ve felt better, you know? Obviously, I entered the match thinking ‘I want to win the match’. But very soon, it became evident that I wasn’t moving wonderfully,” commented Paul.
Tommy Paul
Alcaraz’s performance was impeccable, with a confidence that translated into a dominant game. In the first two sets, the Spaniard accumulated a 23-5 lead in winners, setting the pace of the match from the start.
“Today was one of those days when you feel great. You feel that every shot is going to go in, every shot is going to be a winner,” Alcaraz stated.The third set was more contested, with Paul momentarily leading. However, Alcaraz reacted to close the match in just over an hour and a half.
“In the Grand Slams, the less time you spend on the court, the better to save energy for the next matches,” said Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz
With this victory, Alcaraz becomes the first defending champion in Paris to return to the semifinals since Rafael Nadal in 2021. His impressive record on clay this season is 20-1, leading the men’s circuit with 35 wins and three titles.
In the semifinals, Alcaraz will face Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated Frances Tiafoe in four sets.Musetti Advances After Defeating Tiafoe
Lorenzo Musetti, the eighth seed, secured a victory over Frances Tiafoe, number 15, in a match marked by windy conditions and the intensity of the game.
Tiafoe, visibly affected by the wind, struggled with his initial serve, allowing Musetti to take the lead. Despite Tiafoe’s efforts, Musetti proved superior, with a total of 44 winners compared to his opponent’s 33.Musetti was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after hitting a ball that hit a line judge. The highlight of the match came in the sixth game of the third set, where Musetti made a spectacular shot from an improbable angle, leaving Tiafoe with no chance.
Musetti, with a record of 13-4 at the French Open, will seek to continue advancing in the tournament.
The remaining quarterfinals, which will be played on Wednesday, will pit Jannik Sinner against Alexander Bublik and Alexander Zverev against Novak Djokovic.
