Now it’s time for the quarter-finals. At the Rolex Paris Masters, Friday November 4, the four sesames for the last four were delivered. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Holger Rune, Novak Djokovic, and Stefanos Tsitsipas qualified for the last four.
Alcaraz won’t go any further
The digestion of his status as world No. 1 is still not over. Carlos Alcaraz was taken out in the quarter-finals of the tournament by Holger Rune, on abandonment, in the tie-break of the second set (6-3, 6-6 [2-1]ab.) after 1h39 of play. Visibly affected in the abdominals, the Spaniard preferred to throw in the towel to avoid a longer absence.
The goal is perhaps not to mortgage his chances of participating in the end-of-season Masters in Turin, Italy. Dominated overall, weighed down by his mistakes, he waited for his opponent’s 9th service game to get a first break point. If he woke up at the end of the second round, it was also at this moment that he called in a physiotherapist.
@holgerrune2003 against the Top 10 for a month and a half:
vs. Sinner – No. 10 (ab.)
vs Tsitsipas – N°5
vs. Auger Aliassime – N°9
vs. Hurkacz – N°10
vs. Rublev – N°9
vs Alcaraz – N°1 (ab.)
5 wins, 1 lossKeystone / Georgios Kefalas pic.twitter.com/kFPQN968k4
— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) November 4, 2022
Alcaraz also did not lose everything by losing at the AccorHotel Arena. His lead at the top of the ATP hierarchy will allow him, regardless of the winner of the Parisian tournament, to keep his place on the throne. Rune will find Felix Auger-Aliassime on his side to try to hang, at 19, the first final of his career in Masters 1000, he who had never passed the second round in tournaments of this level.
Djokovic easy against Lorenzo Musetti
He was never worried. Solid from start to finish, the Serbian Novak Djokovic qualified easily for his 75th semi-finals in the Masters 1000, 6-0, 6-3, in 1h13 of play. Opposite, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (23rd at the ‘ATP) suffered the law of the Serbian, current seventh in the world and defending champion.
Setting sights on title No.7 in Bercy @DjokerNole seals his 90th ATP Masters 1000 QF appearance with the W. #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/JWtiCO2ck7
— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) November 4, 2022
Despite a slight burst of pride, which allowed him to register in the second set the only three games of his match, Musetti could not do anything as the step was too high. Novak Djokovic will face for a place in the final Stefanos Tsitsipas, winner of the duel against Tommy Paul.
Auger-Aliassime on its way
After ending the career of Gilles Simon, Felix Auger-Aliassime walked against Frances Tiafoe, seeded n ° 16. The Canadian won in 1h32 and two sets (6-1, 6-4), confirming his exceptional form by winning a 16th consecutive victory. The more the rounds pass, the more the possibility of seeing him win a fourth consecutive tournament, after Florence, Antwerp and Basel, seems credible. Everything is rolling for those who have already validated their ticket for the ATP Finals.
Auger-Aliassime’s 16-match winning streak:
Otte (Florence)
Nakashima
Musetti
Wolf
Guinard (Antwerp)
Evans
Gasket
Korda
Huesler (Basel)
Kecmanovic
bublik
Alcaraz
Rune
Mr. Ymer (Paris)
Simon
tiafoe@felixtennis pic.twitter.com/jDH4xjbrUR— TennisTV (@TennisTV) November 4, 2022
Tsitsipas joins Djokovic in half
For a place in the final, the challenge will be daunting for Stefanos Tsitsipas. After a smooth run since the start of the tournament, without any set given up, the Greek continued his momentum by beating the unexpected American Tommy Paul (31st) 6-2, 6-4.
Semi-finals bound
A solid display from @steftsitsipas #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/LNkXoQgHJ4
— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) November 4, 2022
More structured throughout the match, Stefanos Tsitsipas left little space for the young American, who may have some regrets, especially about his irregularity on the court. Qualified for the last four, Stefanos Tsitsipas will have a lot to do in the next round, against Novak Djokovic, six times winners at Bercy and defending champion.