Alcaraz wins tough two-setter against Auger-Aliassime, a new clash against Sinner is coming !
Carlos Alcaraz still hasn’t dropped a set in Indian Wells after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday. Alcaraz will meet Jannik Sinner in the semis.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2023 – © Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
As if he was never affected by a leg injury at the end of last season and the beginning of this one, Carlos Alcaraz is back in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open and also Acapulco earlier this year, showed no signs of any physical problems and continued to play impeccable tennis in the desert on Thursday night. He beat No 8 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 in exactly two hours as quarterfinal competition at the Indian Wells Masters came to a conclusion. It was his first win over the Canadian in four tries.
The world No 2 will face Italian Jannik Sinner in the semis on Saturday. Alcaraz also reached the last four of this event in 2022, when he fell to compatriot Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz : “Amazing feeling”
Although the scoreline was routine, it wasn’t easy against Auger-Aliassime. Both sets were decided by just a single break, although they exchanged breaks early in the second — with the Spaniard giving away an early advantage. After Alcaraz broke at 4-4, though, he served out the match one game later.
“I feel great,” the 19-year-old assured. “It’s an amazing feeling to come back this year and made semi-final again. Yeah, beating such a great player as Felix for the first time, I’m really happy with my level — the way that I’m playing.”
The 19-year-old Spaniard has not dropped a single set this fortnight. He defeated Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis (6-3, 6-3), Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, the No 31 seed (7-6(4), 6-3) and Jack Draper (6-2, 2-0 ret.) in the previous rounds.
Earlier in the tournament Auger-Aliassime, ranked No 10, knocked off Spaniard Pedro Martinez (7-6(5), 6-4), Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the No 27 seed (7-5, 6-4) and American Tommy Paul, the No 17 seed (3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6)).
Indian Wells Masters, other quarter-finals results:
- Jannik Sinner beat Taylor Fritz (4): 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
- Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23): 6-3, 7-5
- Frances Tiafoe (14) beat Cameron Norrie (10): 6-4, 6-4
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