In Buenos Aires, world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz has advanced to the semi-finals, staying on track to defend his title. He faced Andrea Vavassori in the quarter-finals, securing a 7-6, 6-1 victory in an hour and 40 minutes, showing an improvement from his first match on Thursday.
The Spaniard showcased an impressive 80% serving accuracy and strong defense on his second serve. Alcaraz saved a break point early in the first set and maintained his solid serving throughout the match, putting pressure on Vavassori. Despite a close first set, the Italian lost the tiebreak 7-1.
In the second set, Carlos gained momentum by securing two breaks and dominating the match, setting up a semi-final showdown with Nicolas Jarry. Andrea managed to hold his serve in the opening game with a powerful shot, showcasing his strength at the net.
However, Vavassori’s game faltered in the crucial moments, missing opportunities to break Alcaraz’s serve. The Spaniard capitalized on his chances, ultimately sealing the victory and a spot in the semi-finals.
Carlos responded by winning his service game without dropping a point in the eighth game, thanks to a powerful backhand down the line winner. He then held comfortably two games later to level the score at 5-5. The Italian player showcased his skills with two impressive volley winners in the 11th game, while the Spaniard forced a tiebreak with a forehand winner down the line in the following game.
In the tiebreak, Alcaraz quickly gained the upper hand by securing a mini-break in the first point and following it up with two well-executed drop shot winners to take a commanding 3-0 lead. He continued to dominate, grabbing two more mini-breaks to go up 5-0 before ultimately winning the set as his opponent made a forehand error.
In the second set, Carlos fought off a 0-30 deficit in his service game with two winners and capitalized on three break chances in the following game with a delicate drop shot winner. Despite Vavassori’s efforts to hold him off with service winners, Alcaraz managed to break and take a set and break lead.
The young player showcased his skills with a lob winner in the third game, solidifying his advantage by holding at 30. Vavassori struggled to find his rhythm in the fourth game, facing multiple break points before Carlos sealed the deal with a powerful forehand winner down the line.
Alcaraz continued his strong performance, holding comfortably in the fifth game and serving for the match at 5-1. Despite facing some pressure at 0-30, he responded with winners and earned himself a match point with an unreturnable serve. Vavassori saved the first match point with a backhand winner, but Carlos quickly created another with a well-placed volley winner at the net. He then sealed the victory with a forehand winner down the line, securing his spot in the semifinals.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org