World number three Carlos Alcaraz took a significant step towards a potential Olympic Games showdown against Novak Djokovic on Thursday, displaying a dominant performance that even captivated Queen Letizia of Spain. Playing on the same Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros where he clinched the French Open in June, Alcaraz overpowered 13th-ranked Tommy Paul of the United States with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).
The 21-year-old Alcaraz exhibited remarkable resilience, recovering from a break down in the second set to overcome Paul. This victory followed his triumph over the American in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, ultimately leading to his championship win at the All England Club last month. The tension in the second set tie-break, especially when Alcaraz had to save a set point, was palpable, even affecting Queen Letizia, who appeared visibly nervous courtside before joining the crowd in a rousing standing ovation for the Spanish star.
“It’s all about the fight,” Alcaraz emphasized, reflecting on his performance just a day after experiencing a heartbreaking doubles loss alongside Rafael Nadal in what was likely the veteran’s final appearance at Roland Garros. “Maybe I was a little tired from all the emotion of yesterday, playing with Rafa but I gave it everything on court,” Alcaraz explained. “I had to play with intensity because Tommy is such a great athlete. I was a bit tired at the end but I just remember that I am playing for my country as well as myself.”
The Spanish star’s path to the gold medal match now hinges on his upcoming match against either Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic, the top seed, is set to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in his quarterfinal later Thursday, setting the stage for a potential clash of titans in the gold medal final.
