Dramatic finale of Alcaraz in Vienna

The romance of Carlos Alcaraz23 years old and world No. 3, with the ATP 500 category tournaments he continues to be solid. There are now 23 consecutive victories, the last defeat dates back to the final of Godó 2025, which ended physically touched against the Dane Holger Runechampion.

This Friday, not before 3:00 p.m., He will have another chance to extend this streak, in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 indoor hard court in Vienna. In front, the American Tommy Paul 29 years old and number 14, who overwhelmed the Italian Luciano Darderi by 6-1 and 6-1. Carlos Alcaraz followed in his footsteps, who was undone by the Georgian Nikoloz Basilasvhili for 6-1 and 7-6 (13-11) in 1h.40′.

A marvelous display by Alcaraz in the first part of the match, a well-fought fight in a more committed second part. From the personal festival to the dramatic finale, having to save four set points in a tiebreak that already started to look bad at 1-4.

A festival of resources to end up appeasing the reborn Basilashvili, who entered the draw directly after having been a finalist the previous week in Almaty, where he lost to the Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz, wanting to gain momentum for the exciting end of the campaign, immediately dismasted Basilashvili, a linear tennis player, based on a violent hit of the ball, without measuring risks. A nightmare in success dynamics and an ally when everything fails. He showed the teeth of his best times.

At first the Spaniard did not allow either one or the other, in the initial set. The Murcian took the joystick for a long time to move the opponent as he wanted. He made him dizzy with his forceful rights, also an inventiveness that disarms, surprises.

The first set was 9.2, the performance gradethe statistic that comes from measuring your tennis with numbers. Outstanding deserved. With so much perfection, with the classification faced with 3-2 and serve, that moment of respite that the stars also give themselves. A bad game, 3-3. To have to keep working.

Alcaraz had two break balls for 5-4 and serve. Basilashvili, exempt from responsibility and kamikaze tennis, let go of his arm and survived cannon shots until the tiebreak.

He challenged Alcaraz, going ahead 4-1, having four set points, the fourth very clear to finish with a volley. But Alcaraz used his magic wand, which finished off his fourth match ball. A reaction to strike down Basilashvili and his incipient danger. Give a brilliant culmination to the game. The Spaniard raised his opponent’s arms to recognize the quality of his tennis in the second set.

In the quarterfinals Alcaraz will have a tenth duel with Tommy Paulwhom he already beat this year in the round of 16 of the Australian Open (7-6, 6-4 and 7-5) and the US Open (6-4, 6-3 and 6-4).

On aggregate, 7-2 for Alcaraz, with a favorable series of 6-0. Paul is exhausting his last chances of finishing in the world top-10, even of going to the ATP Finals if he strings together two huge results in Vienna and, next week, in Paris.

The Russian already has his homework advanced Daniil Medvedev that came back from a match ball to Cameron Norrie to be in the quarterfinals, against Adrian Mannarino. The Muscovite glimpses a mathematical place in the Finals, perhaps a duel this Saturday with Alcaraz in Vienna, where the Spaniard is making his second appearance. He made the semis in his debut, in 2021.