Top seeds Alcaraz and Swiatek into Madrid Open semifinals

03.05.2023 - 23:41 arabnews.com

MADRID: Carlos Alcaraz made sure he will get to celebrate his 20th birthday on the court at the Madrid Open come Friday. The defending champion overcame a tough test from Karen Khachanov on Wednesday, rallying late in the second set for a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win that set up a semifinal against Borna Coric on his birthday.

It was Alcaraz’s 150th tour-level match, and his 117th victory to leave him with a winning percentage (78 percent) currently better than the likes of Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Andre Agassi. “My dream in tennis right now is to become one of the best tennis players in history,” Alcaraz said. “I know that this is a big dream, (it) probably is too big.

But in this world, you have to dream big and you have to think big, as well. I want to be part of the the best tennis players in history.

And I will work for it.” Women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek also made it to the last four in the Spanish capital, cruising to a 6-0, 6-3 win over Petra Martic.

ATP Andy Murray Iga Swiatek Karen Khachanov Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic Pete Sampras Boris Becker Petra Martic Andrea Vavassori Russia Spain Madrid

The 20-year-old Spaniard had come into the tournament on the back of wins in Barcelona and Madrid but was outplayed by Marozsan, who is ranked 135th in the world.

Noavk Djokovic, Iga Swiatek Into Italian Open Last 16

Novak Djokovic reached the last 16 of the Italian Open on Sunday after winning a battle with Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, while blistering Iga Swiatek thrashed Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0. Six-time Rome champion Djokovic initially looked in improved form compared to his sluggish tournament opener against Tomas Etcheverry but again had a fight on his hands against the former world number three. "I think I'm getting close to the desired level. You can always play better but today I had a really good quality opponent and I think I delivered," Djokovic told reporters.

Djokovic, Swiatek into Italian Open last 16

ROME: Novak Djokovic reached the last 16 of the Italian Open on Sunday after winning a battle with Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, while blistering Iga Swiatek thrashed Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0.

Alcaraz says focus will not change as French Open top seed

Carlos Alcaraz said being the top seed at the French Open was "crazy", something he would not have believed years ago, but the Spaniard will not dwell too much on his position heading into the year's second Grand Slam.

Alcaraz returns to world number one, takes French Open top seeding

ROME: Carlos Alcaraz guaranteed a return to the world number one spot on Saturday (May 13) when he took to court to play fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round of the Italian Open.

How Carlos Alcaraz is set to get to world No. 1 at Italian Open and be French Open top seed ahead of Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz looks set to get to world No. 1 again. The 20-year-old has already had two stints at the top of the rankings, lasting a combined 22 weeks, and after his win at the Madrid Open he is just five points behind current world No.