The Spaniard maintained his prolific runs as he cruised previous Frenchman Valentin Royer
Carlos Alcaraz, who turned the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam on the Australian Open earlier this month, notched his ninth straight win of 2025. Photograph: AFP
DOHA:
Carlos Alcaraz maintained his 100-percent begin to the yr by battling previous Frenchman Valentin Royer in Doha on Wednesday, whereas his nice rival Jannik Sinner additionally secured a quarter-final place.
The world primary, who turned the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam on the Australian Open earlier this month, notched his ninth straight win of 2025 with a 6-2, 7-5 success regardless of trailing 5-2 within the second set.
“There have been some moments once I considered a 3rd set, I am not going to lie, however clearly it was only a small place in my thoughts that was considering that,” Alcaraz stated.
“The remaining was working to search out options, to search out the suitable means once more.”
The 22-year-old will play Russian seventh seed Karen Khachanov for a semi-final berth on Thursday.
Alcaraz has received all 5 of his earlier conferences with Khachanov, dropping just one set within the course of.
Alcaraz raced by the opening set towards Royer, breaking twice with out dealing with a break level.
However the Sixtieth-ranked Royer raised his degree within the second, lacking a break level within the second sport however making no mistake shortly afterwards to stretch 3-1 in entrance.
Alcaraz instantly carved out a chance to hit straight again within the subsequent sport, however Royer managed to consolidate his break.
The underdog couldn’t shut out the set when he served for it, although, as Alcaraz broke again in sport 9.
The Spaniard made Royer pay, ultimately reeling off 5 consecutive video games to wrap up victory.
Sinner powers by
Italian Sinner, enjoying his first match since dropping to Novak Djokovic within the Australian Open semi-finals final month, eased to a 6-3, 7-5 win over Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Sinner will play Jakub Mensik within the quarters.
The world quantity two has now received his final 50 matches towards gamers ranked outdoors the highest 50, a run courting again to a loss to Dusan Lajovic in Cincinnati in 2023.
“I respect each participant, however I at all times attempt to play my greatest tennis,” Sinner stated when advised of that streak.
“The rating, on the finish of the day, is only a quantity. Everyone seems to be enjoying (with) prime quality.
“Particularly when the opponents haven’t got a lot to lose, you at all times have to remain very targeted.”
Australian world quantity 53 Popyrin battled gamely however didn’t create a break-point alternative towards his scientific opponent.
Sinner dropped simply three factors on serve in a superb first set, which he took courtesy of a break within the sixth sport.
Popyrin fought laborious within the second however couldn’t power a tie-break as Sinner broke to seize a 6-5 lead earlier than confidently serving out the set.
Stefanos Tsitsipas reached his first quarter-final for the reason that Barcelona Open final April, beating former world primary Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4.
France’s Arthur Fils, enjoying solely his fourth match since withdrawing from final yr’s French Open injured, noticed off compatriot Quentin Halys 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).
