Alcaraz Speeds into Roland Garros Semi-Finals

It is becoming a habit. For the third consecutive year, Carlos Alcaraz is in the semi-finals of Roland Garros. The Spaniard, who alternates favouritism with Jannik Sinner with each match, swiftly defeated one of his circuit nemeses, Tommy Paul (6-0, 6-1, 6-4), to secure a spot in the Paris tournament's semi-finals, where he will face Lorenzo Musetti.

Returning to the night session, where he previously struggled against Damir Dzumhur, Alcaraz was well-prepared this time. His start against Paul, a player who has beaten him twice and consistently challenged him in their encounters, was dominant. It was the performance of a player aware of Jannik Sinner's impressive victories on the other side of the draw, determined to maintain his status as the favourite.

In just twenty minutes, Alcaraz was leading 5-0, a remarkable feat despite Paul's preference for faster surfaces. The American had reached the semi-finals in Rome for the second year running and had overcome two five-set matches against formidable opponents like Marton Fucsovics and Karen Khachanov, as well as defeating Alexei Popyrin in the previous round. Despite spending more time on court in earlier rounds than Alcaraz, there was no excuse for the resounding defeat he suffered, culminating in a first-set bagel.

Paul's expression was one of bewilderment and acceptance, much like his NBA compatriots in the stands who acknowledged the Spaniard's superiority and enjoyed his points rather than lamenting their fellow countryman's loss.

Far from experiencing any dips, the match maintained a consistent pace as the thrashing took shape. Alcaraz had never won a Grand Slam quarter-final with such authority, aside from the 2021 US Open when Felix Auger-Aliassime retired in the second set. He had never delivered a 'bagel' in this round and had never seemed so ready to defend his Roland Garros title. Paul lasted just an hour and 36 minutes, conceding only five games. Alcaraz had never lost so few games from a Grand Slam quarter-final onwards.

"It was one of those matches where I felt I could close my eyes and everything would go in. Everything went in. I'm thrilled with everything," Alcaraz stated in his on-court interview with Mats Wilander.

Alcaraz's opponent on Friday will be Lorenzo Musetti, who will play his second Grand Slam semi-final after Wimbledon 2024. The Italian, who has also reached semi-finals in Madrid and Rome and a final in Monte Carlo during this clay season, defeated Frances Tiafoe (6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2) and will be among the world's top five for the first time in his career at the end of Roland Garros. The head-to-head with Alcaraz stands at 5-1 in favour of the Spaniard, who has won their last five encounters. He only lost to Musetti in the 2022 Hamburg final and has since dropped just one set in twelve against the Carrara native.