Alcarath in the quarter -finals of Rome for the first time and sees Paris from No. 2

For the first time in his career, the Carlos Alcarath In the quarter -finals of Italian Openby dominating his Karen Katsanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in a hard battle that lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes in Rome’s central court.

With this victory, the 22 -year -old raises the bar even higher as it is done The only active tennis player who has reached the quarter -finals and the nine Masters 1000 events! At the same time he is the first Spanish to do so in Rome after Rafa nadalwhich had last done it in 2021.

The match started with Alcarath Be nervous and receive first break, but then turned, winning five consecutive games and taking the first set with 6-3. But Katsanov was not delivered. The Russian, No. 23 on the board, maintained his temper and took advantage of a Spanish “belly”, took four consecutive games in the second set and equalized at 1-1.

In the third and decisive set, Alcarath may have led 4-1, but the Katsanov fighter reduced and pressed to the end. Eventually, the Spaniard made the decisive break in the twelfth game and “sealed” the qualification.

Next Alcarath’s opponent in the semifinals will be the Jack Draperwho overturned the situation and excluded Cortan Mute with 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The stake for the Spaniard is now double: with the qualification in the final, it ensures the return to No. 2 of the world rankings and together the second place on the Roland Garros dashboard. On the other hand, the Draper claims his entry into the top 4 of ATP for the first time in his careerwhich will also give him a critical position in the draw of the second Grand Slam of the year.