Alcaraz sweeps into Argentina Open semi-finals
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame damp, cold conditions to advance to the Argentina Open semi-finals with a straight sets victory over Serbia's Dusan Lajovic on Friday.
The Spanish world number two, who is returning to tennis this week in Buenos Aires after a four-month injury layoff, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 1hr 33min.
After a week of wild weather swings in Buenos Aires, temperatures ranged from 38.1 C (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) last Sunday to 7.9 C (46.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
Despite the weather, around 5,000 fans packed the Guillermo Vilas court at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club to watch Alcaraz advance to the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz, who looked rusty in his first match of the tournament on Wednesday, made a strong start to take a 3-0 lead before giving up the initiative and allowing Lajovic to tie the match at 4-4.
After that, the 19-year-old held and broke Lajovic to take the first set.
Alcaraz dominated the second set, quickly establishing a commanding lead before clinching victory with a trademark forehand winner.
"Everything was very different from what we were used to — there was rain and it was cold," said Alcaraz of the weather.
"But the tennis player's day-to-day job is to adapt to the conditions, and I think a great match came out.
"I competed very well and played at a high level, but I want to keep improving in the semi-finals."
In the last four, Alcaraz will face either Argentine fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo or Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
On the other side of the draw, Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas will face Cameron Norrie of the United Kingdom for a spot in the final.
In the quarter-finals, Varillas defeated third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, second seed Norrie defeated Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals.
Leave A Comment