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4 months ago
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Carlos Alcaraz continued to take the long route to this year's Wimbledon singles final as he pulled off a four-set, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win against Tommy Paul on No 1 Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The defending champion was taken the distance by Paul's compatriot Frances Tiafoe in his third-round clash, and also needed five sets to bypass Ugo Humbert in his round of 16 tie.
Falling a set behind after a fast start from the US No 2, Alcaraz was then broken in the first game of the second set.
But the third game marked the beginning of a momentum shift, with Paul only capable of winning one of the next five games before Alcaraz waltzed away with the second set.
Quick off the mark in the third, it was Alcaraz who swiped the opening break, before being immediately broken back by the American.
Carlos Alcaraz is one step closer to a second-consecutive Wimbledon final after victory against Tommy Paul
The defending champion was in imperious form as he grew into Tuesday afternoon's game
The world No 13 was able to clinch the opening set but struggled for dominance on No 1 Court
Battle between the two men was as finely poised as their previous head-to-head would suggest, with Alcaraz and Paul both boasting two wins over their rival.
But as Paul faltered in the third set, Alcaraz started looking at the height of his powers as he gained took the lead, before storming through the fourth set with a string of breaks to the Alcaraz serve.
He has been playing great on grass, he's been doing great stuff at Wimbledon, beating great players,' Alcaraz said of his opponent. 'It was a really difficult match for me today.
'In the first set and the beginning of the second set, it was kind of like I'm playing on clay. Big rallies and over 10, 15 shots every point so I had to stay strong mentally.
'When I lost the first set it was kind of difficult for me a little but I knew it's a really long journey, really long match so I had to stay there and I'm really happy to find the solutions and find the good path.'
Paul came into the Grand Slam competition having won a grass court title at Queen's Club
The pair had a level head-to-head record going into the No 1 Court clash and for some time the contest looked finely poised
When asked how he has such a strong mentality, Alcaraz attributed it to his ability to fight back at all costs.
'I believe that I can be back,' he continued. 'If I'm struggling a little bit to find the solutions if the opponent is playing great tennis and I don't get him in trouble, I believe at the end that I'll be able to come back and be able to find solutions.
"Even here in the Grand Slams, the matches are longer. I have more to recover, to be back, so I believe in myself the whole time.
Alcaraz will face Medvedev in the his semi-final in a replay of last year's match, and the Spaniard said that he hoped for 'the same result'.
Alcaraz will face off with Daniil Medvedev (pictured) in a re-run of last year's semi-final
The Spaniard is planning on spending the rest of his evening watching La Roja at the Euros
'He just won against Jannik Sinner, the best player right now, so I know that he's in really good shape so I have to play my best,' Alcaraz continued. 'I have to believe in myself and try to keep going if I want to beat him so it's going to be a difficult one but I'm going to enjoy.
Rather than switch off on Tuesday evening, the 21-year-old shared that he was preparing to expend more energy on nerves watching his beloved Spain face off with France in their Euro 2024 semi-final.
English (US)