Alcaraz survives stern test from Tommy Paul to reach debut Olympic semi-final
The Spaniard came through 6-3, 7-6 (7) to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics on his debut appearance at the Games
Carlos Alcaraz, Paris Olympics, 2024 © DPPI / Panoramic
In a young career already full of record-breaking achievements, Carlos Alcaraz has added another early feather to his cap by reaching the semi-finals of the Olympic Games on his debut appearance.
In doing so, the 21-year-old Spaniard has guaranteed himself two shots at a medal for his country and becomes the youngest Olympic singles semi-finalist since Novak Djokovic back in 2008.
But there was little that was straightforward about today’s victory, despite a straight-sets scoreline. Alcaraz overcame an excellent display from Tommy Paul, eventually defeating the American 6-3, 7-6 (7) on a hot and humid day in Paris.
If Alcaraz has an opponent against whom he struggles more frequently than most, it is the big-serving man from New Jersey.
The pair played a memorable double-header in the US hard-court swing last summer, with Paul getting the better of Alcaraz at the Canadian Open for the second year in a row before the Spaniard reversed the result the following week in Cincinnati in a second consecutive three-set tussle.
The American then again tested Alcaraz at Wimbledon last month, taking the first set off the defending champion before he found levels Paul could not match.
Today, Alcaraz again had too much for the world No 13, but it was another thorough examination of the young Spaniard’s capacity to thrive under pressure as a close contest unfolded on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
testing encounter for alcaraz against impressive tommy paul
The first set was comfortable enough for Alcaraz, with a sole break in the sixth game all he needed to take the opener. It was in the second stanza that complications arose, as the American broke in the second game en route to a 3-0 lead.
Paul had a clear and evident game plan, using his powerful serve out wide to drag Alcaraz out of position before frequently sweeping to the net to close out the point in the forecourt. It was an intelligent plan, one that worked to great effect and was executed brilliantly.
Alcaraz was visibly rattled at his opponent’s level in the second set, repeatedly complaining about the rock-hard state of the courts whose usually low-bouncing clay had been baked dry in the heat of the midsummer Parisian sun.
This is nothing unusual for the courts of Roland-Garros, however, and Alcaraz was likely venting frustration at a gameplan that was achieving its aim in shackling the normally dynamic Spaniard.
3-0 turned to 4-1, then 5-2 as both players held serve. When Paul stepped up to the baseline to serve out the second set at 5-3, however, Alcaraz – as he has already done many times in his fledgling career – broke serve with a superb return game.
The match headed into a tiebreak two games later, and it was every bit as close as the set that preceded it. Paul saved a match point at 6-5 down, before his opponent had to save a set point at 6-7 two points later. From there, however, it was the Spaniard who once again found that extra impetus to win the final three points of the breaker to knock Paul out of the Olympics.
With the Queen of Spain watching on, Alcaraz once again displayed a mental fortitude far beyond his 21 years. It has been an extraordinary summer for him, having won his maiden French Open title in June before successfully defending his Wimbledon crown in devastating style the following month.
August could deliver yet more astonishing success for Alcaraz before the summer is out, as he remains the favourite to land the gold medal in the men’s singles event.
alcaraz to meet auger-aliassime in the semi-finals
Alcaraz will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals – a well-seasoned clay-courter in a rich run of form.
The Canadian beat Casper Ruud of Norway in their quarter-final match, coming through a gripping encounter 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3. The Norwegian saved a match point in the second set tiebreak before taking his third set point to level the match, only for Auger-Aliassime to reset excellently and clinch the decider.
The Canadian was brilliant throughout, as he has been across the course of this tournament. He will pose a serious threat to Alcaraz’s path to the final.
But given the irrepressible form this phenomenal young man from Murcia has been in over the past two months, it would be a brave onlooker to bet against at least a bronze medal for Alcaraz by this point.
