Carlos Alcaraz arrange his second profession assembly with Rafael Nadal with a high-quality and intense 6-4, 6-3 win over Cameron Norrie within the Indian Wells quarter-finals on Thursday night time.
Already the youngest BNP Paribas Open males’s quarter-finalist since a 17-year-old Michael Chang in 1989, Alcaraz is now the second-youngest semi-finalist in event historical past behind solely Andre Agassi, additionally 17, in 1988.
The 18th-seeded Spaniard hit 31 winners to only 14 unforced errors to knock off the in-form Briton, who was a plus-eight within the winners to errors depend himself. A cleanly performed and tightly contested matchup noticed 10 breaks of serve and 5 in every set, with Alcaraz falling behind early in each.
“It’s so particular to have the ability to play my first semi-final in a Masters1000 right here in Indian Wells, in Tennis Paradise,” Alcaraz mentioned post-match. “I am having fun with each single second. I’ve no phrases to explain my emotions proper now.”
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After twice trailing by a break within the opener, the 18-year-old gained the final three video games and pocketed the set by taking his third break level in a five-deuce sport — the longest of the night time.
Alcaraz once more erased Norrie’s sturdy begin in set two as he broke in every of his final three return video games earlier than serving out the match to like. On the entire, Alcaraz broke six instances in 9 return video games.
THAT is the way you break, of us 💥@alcarazcarlos03 #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/CaGRGnEkzi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 18, 2022
He has now earned a rematch in opposition to Nadal, after his compatriot gained their first ATP Head2Head assembly, 6-1, 6-2, in Madrid final spring.
That first assembly got here on Alcaraz’s 18th birthday on the Spanish clay. Now on the American onerous courts, the teenager feels prepared to offer the 36-time Masters 1000 champion an even bigger problem.
“I keep in mind that I performed actually, actually nervous,” he mentioned of the Madrid matchup. “I feel this time I skilled with him a few instances, I do know extra how one can play in opposition to him. I feel now it should be a little bit bit completely different this match. Clearly he can destroy me once more, however I do not know what’s going to occur.”
Picture Credit score: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Alcaraz and Nadal are a mixed 31-1 in 2022, with Alcaraz at 12-1 and Nadal an ideal 19-0. The youthful Spaniard gained the Rio de Janeiro title in February, whereas Nadal has gained three tour-level titles on the 12 months, together with the Australian Open.
Are you prepared for this?@RafaelNadal v. @alcarazcarlos03 @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/w4YpOi5x3S
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 18, 2022
When each males reaching the Indian Wells quarter-finals, it gave Spain a number of males at that stage of the BNP Paribas Open for the primary time since 2015, when Nadal and Feliciano Lopez misplaced within the final eight. Alcaraz and Nadal are the primary Spanish pair to achieve the Indian Wells semi-finals within the event’s 46-year historical past.
“It is robust to play in opposition to Rafa however on the similar time I’ll benefit from the second, I’ll benefit from the match,” Alcaraz previewed. “It isn’t daily you play in opposition to your idol. I will be glad even when I lose that match. however I’m centered proper now to play my greatest in opposition to Rafa and be capable of take my probabilities.”
