Roland-Garros: first quarter-final in Paris for Alcaraz

"I had a great match, I played very well from start to finish, commented the 19-year-old player. I knew it would be a big fight and that I had to be focused from the start. I very well done".

Already world No.6 after a hair-raising spring, he will face for a place in the last four world No.3 Alexander Zverev, whom he crushed in the final of the Madrid tournament in early May (6-3, 6-1).

This will be his second Grand Slam quarter-final after the one reached at the US Open last September (abandonment against Auger-Aliassime).

After saving a match point in the second round, getting away with it after a marathon match lasting more than four and a half hours, the young Spaniard wasted no more time at Porte d'Auteuil: barely more than two hours at the third round against the American talent Sebastian Korda (30th), dominated 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, and, in the round of 16, 2h14 min against Khachanov.

"I always say that it is very important to have the support of the public because it is easier to play, to come back and to fight when the situation is complicated", underlined the young player who already has the favor of the public. .

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, during the round of 16 of the Roland-Garros tournament against Russian Karen Khachanov, May 29, 2022 Thomas SAMSON AFP

With its qualification for the quarter-finals, Alcaraz stretches its series of games won in a row to fourteen, with the Barcelona tournament and the Masters 1000 in Madrid, its second trophy in this category after Miami in early April.

In the second round on Wednesday, Alcaraz had moved within a point of defeat - and disillusion - to compatriot Albert Ramos.

The young Murcian was finally out after a fight of 4h34 min 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, after having saved a match point in the fourth set.

The longest match of his fledgling career.

For his first Roland-Garros a year ago, the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world No.1 and 2003 Roland-Garros winner, stopped in the third round (beaten by Struff) after crossing in screw up the qualifications.

© 2022 AFP