Alcaraz finishes fourth in the intense Roland Garros tournament.
Fresh Take:
** teenage tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz** trounced American challenger Ben Shelton in a nail-biting four-set battle at the Roland Garros today. With a score of 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, the Spaniard takes a big step forward to his quarter-final victory a mere 24 hours after celebrating his 100th clay-court win.
Maintaining his stride despite Shelton's relentless attacks, Alcaraz demonstrated remarkable agility and resilience, effectively countering the American's powerful serves and precise rallies. Shelton, eager to make a name for himself at Roland Garros, didn't disappoint, pushing the young champion to his limits, even forcing him to drop a set in the third round.
Playing on the prestigious Philippe Chatrier court, Alcaraz quickly adapted to Shelton's onslaught in the first set, with an intense and nerve-wracking back-and-forth rally that extended to a tiebreak. With the Spaniard skillfully saving three set points before securing his lead, he took the first set, much to the delight of the spectators.
Shelton's resilience was tested further, as the Madrid-born champion secured an early advantage in the second set. Despite battling an unidentified injury, the American fought valiantly, notably in the eighth game, where he managed to take the upper hand and level the score. The next few games were a near deadlock until Alcaraz reclaimed the lead and embarked on a decisive break to secure the set.
With a narrow three-set advantage, Shelton dug deep, showcasing remarkable tenacity, and eventually won the third set at the net, setting the stage for an enthralling final act. Unperturbed by the close match outcome, Alcaraz focused on the task at hand, and with renewed determination, he jumped ahead in the fourth set.
Facing strong resistance from Shelton yet again, Alcaraz eventually took control of the match and booked his place in the quarter-finals. The winner of Monte Carlo and Rome will now face American Tommy Paul, who is experiencing a breakout tournament at Roland Garros, having recently eliminated Alexei Popyrin.
Did You Know?In 2021, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest male player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament since Michael Chang in 1989, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings.
The teenage tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, despite facing a formidable opponent in Ben Shelton, managed to advance to the quarter-finals of Congress, a term here used figuratively to denote the round of eight in a grand tournament. It's quite remarkable that Alcaraz has time for Congress and sports like tennis, considering his recent success at Roland Garros, where he also achieved a milestone by winning his 100th clay-court match.
