At the French Open 2023 , Carlos Alcaraz dominated Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(5) to advance to the semi-finals. The victory of Alcaraz sets up a thrilling matchup with Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz will keep the top spot if he defeats Djokovic, but if Djokovic triumphs, he could retake it by winning his third Roland Garros championship.
Alcaraz demonstrated his self-assurance and belief in himself during the match with Tsitsipas, which he views as essential to his success.He took control from the start with a powerful display from the baseline, mixing it up with well-placed drop shots that kept Tsitsipas off balance.
“I believe in myself all the time, that’s the most important thing — not only for me, I would say for everyone, believing in yourself,” Alcaraz said on-court when asked about his strong performance.
Games in the second set
Tsitsipas struggled to find answers and was unable to mount a comeback after losing seven consecutive games in the second set. Despite some late resistance from Tsitsipas, Alcaraz closed out the victory in a strong tie-break, securing his place in the semi-finals.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz has been in outstanding form this season, improving his record to 35-3 and maintaining a perfect 5-0 record against Tsitsipas.
“I lost my focus a little bit at the end of the third set,” Alcaraz said. “I had a couple of match points on the return, [and then] serving for the match. He started to play, I would say, better. But of course I lost my focus a little bit.
“I was in trouble. I’m really happy to overcome that problem, still playing a great level, believing in myself, believing that I was going to win the third set. But of course it was really tough at the end of the match.”
Alcaraz’s performance showcased his all-around skills, with powerful forehand winners and exceptional speed to foil Tsitsipas’ drop shots and net approaches. He proved that he is deserving of his top seed status at a Grand Slam for the first time.
