‘Incredible’ Alcaraz reaches Barcelona semi-finals and world top 10

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Barcelona semi-finals on Friday, defeating top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a three-set thriller to become the world’s youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Tsitsipas, who had successfully defended his Monte Carlo Masters title last weekend, was defeated by the 18-year-old Spaniard 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Alcaraz will become the first adolescent to enter the top ten since Andy Murray in 2007 and the youngest since compatriot and 21-time major winner Nadal 17 years ago.

“Probably my biggest win on clay court. It was unbelievable,” said Alcaraz on court.

“Unbelievable match, unbelievable atmosphere that I lived today on court. It was unbelievable everything. It was incredible.”

When Alcaraz led 4-1 in the second set, he had a chance to win the match in straight sets for the 21st time in 2022.

He regrouped, however, and raced through the decider to set up a semi-final matchup with Australia’s Alex De Minaur, as he aims to win his third championship of the year after Rio and the Miami Masters.

Friday’s win was his third in three meetings with Greek star Tsitsipas, whose attitude was not helped by two-point penalties for a mid-game break at 0-3 down in the third set and a time violation on Friday.

After just two matches were feasible on Thursday due to heavy weather, all 12 matches were played on Friday.

In his quarter-final, De Minaur defeated British fourth seed Cameron Norrie 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.

Norrie had taken an exhausting three and a half hours earlier in the day to upset Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 6-7 (9/11), 6-4 in his postponed third round match.

De Minaur, on the other hand, qualified for the quarterfinals as South African Lloyd Harris retired after losing the opening set 6-0.

After doing double duty on Friday, Pablo Carreno Busta and Diego Schwartzman will clash in the other semi-final.

Carreno Busta survived three match points against Norway’s Casper Ruud, then recovered from an early break in the third set to win 4-6, 7-6 (8/10), 6-3 after three hours.

“I’m so, so happy for this victory,” said the 30-year-old Spaniard who beat Lorenzo Sonego in another three-setter earlier in the day.

“It was very emotional today playing in front of my people, in my home. I was a set down after playing three hours this morning, so it’s very, very tough to come back.”

Schwartzman, the sixth seed, made the semi-finals by defeating third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The Argentine spent just over four hours on court Friday, beating Lorenzo Musetti, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round.

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