Carlos Alcaraz takes one step closer to his second Wimbledon final after bulldozing past Tommy Paul in four-set quarter-final clash
- The reigning champion fell a set behind but quickly recovered
Carlos Alcaraz continued his long road to the singles final at Wimbledon this year by beating Tommy Paul in four sets (5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2) on Court No. 1 on Tuesday afternoon.
The reigning champion was defeated in the third round by Paul’s compatriot Frances Tiafoe and also needed five sets to beat Ugo Humbert in his round of 16.
Alcaraz fell behind a set after a fast start from the US number 2, but was broken in the first game of the second set.
But the third game marked the beginning of a turning point, with Paul only able to win one of the next five games before Alcaraz took the second set with ease.
Alcaraz was lightning fast in the third period and provided the opening break, but was immediately hit back by the American.
Carlos Alcaraz moves one step closer to second consecutive Wimbledon final after defeating Tommy Paul
The battle between the two men was as exciting as their previous clashes suggested, with Alcaraz and Paul both recording two wins over their rival.
But while Paul was failing in the third set, Alcaraz seemed to be at the height of his powers, increasingly taking control and storming into the fourth set with a series of breaks on Alcaraz’s serve.
“He played great on grass, he did great things at Wimbledon and beat great players,” Alcaraz said of his opponent. “It was a really difficult match for me today.
In the beginning it was a bit like playing on clay, with very big rallies.
“I had to stay mentally strong. When I lost the first set, it was tough, but I know it’s a long road, and I had to be strong and walk the right path.”
When asked how he got such a strong mentality, Alcaraz attributed it to his ability to fight back at all costs.
“I believe I can come back, even though I’m struggling a little bit to find solutions,” he continued. “I believe I can come back eventually and find solutions, and a good rhythm.
The world number 13 managed to win the opening set, but struggled with the dominance on court number 1
‘Even here in the Grand Slams where the matches are longer, I have longer to recover. I believe in myself all the time.’
Alcaraz will face Medvedev in the semi-finals, a repeat of last year’s match, with the Spaniard saying he was hoping for “the same result.”
“He just beat Jannik Sinner, the best player at the moment,” Alcaraz added. “I know he’s in great shape, so I have to do my best.”
Rather than pulling the plug on Tuesday night, the 21-year-old said he was preparing to put more energy into dealing with the nerves as his beloved Spain take on France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.