Auger-Aliassime in demonstration, Alcaraz gives up !

The first two quarter-finals have given their verdict. The Accor Arena was the scene of another great performance by Felix Auger-Aliassime, who gave Frances Tiafoe almost no chance (6-1, 6-4). He will face Holger Rune tomorrow, who qualified after Carlos Alcaraz retired in the second set (6-3, 6-6, ab.).

Félix, the almighty

With the match balls out of the way and the crowd on fire, hope was high as Frances Tiafoe won the set at 3-5 to stay in the match. Hope that Frances Tiafoe, ranked 21st in the world, could turn the tables in the second set and put the Canadian in doubt. But when he served for the match at 5-4, Felix ended up cutting short any possibility of a third set between the two young prodigies. A final stake negotiated rather well considering the pressure on the shoulders of the Canadian. Pressure because yes, during almost the entire match, Tiafoe seemed resigned at times, as Auger-Aliassime left him nothing. And when Frances has nothing left to lose, he drops his shots, plays for fun and the public. Putting the ultra-competitive aspect of his game on hold for a few points is what allows him to regain hope and to put aside five match points, much to the delight of the Accor Arena, which wanted to see a thriller. But Felix was far too serious, far too solid and full of confidence. The result was two clean sets for “F2A”, 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour and 34 minutes.

A cut short battle

After winning the first set 6-3, Holger Rune clearly did not steal his qualification. Trailing 1-3 in the tiebreak of the second set, Alcaraz sent a very weak serve, tried to get to the net, and even though the Dane’s return was not devastating, “Carlitos” did not seek to play the point. He tells the referee that it’s over for him, and shakes his opponent’s hand. He preferred to take precautions and not to force his hand, even though he had been feeling pain for a few games. A discomfort on the left side of his side that had already led him to ask the medical staff to intervene when he was leading 6-5. He quickly fell behind in the deciding game and preferred to throw in the towel. Before that, the two warriors were engaged in a high-flying battle, and it was Holger Rune, ranked 18th in the world, who had the advantage after winning the first set (6-3). A qualification far from being undeserved for the man who has only been beaten once in his last 13 matches (not including that victory against Alcaraz). And that defeat was not against just anyone. The one he will meet again in tomorrow’s semi-final, Felix Auger-Aliassime. A match with a possible taste of revenge for the Dane, who lost in the final in Vienna against the Canadian.