Tennis: Alcaraz advances to the Argentina Open semi-finals
First seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame damp, cold conditions to advance to the Argentina Open semi-finals with a straight-sets triumph over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic on Friday.
The Spanish world number two, who is returning to tennis this week in Buenos Aires after a four-month injury absence, advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph in 1hr 33min.
The quarter-finals on Friday took place in frigid cold conditions, following a week of extraordinary weather changes in Buenos Aires that saw temperatures range from 38.1 C (100.6 F) last Sunday to 7.9 C (46.2 F) on Thursday.
Alcaraz, who appeared sluggish in his first match of the tournament on Wednesday, had a strong start to grab a 3-0 lead before giving up the advantage, not allowing Lajovic to tie the match at 4-4.
After that, the 19-year-old held and broke Lajovic to take the first set.
Alcaraz dominated the second set, quickly establishing a commanding lead before securing victory with a signature forehand winner.
“Everything was very different from what we have been used to — there was rain and it was cold,” Alcaraz said of the conditions.
“But the tennis player’s day-to-day job is to adapt to the conditions, and I think a great match came out.”
“I have competed very well, I have played at a great level, but I want to continue improving in the semi-finals.”
The semifinal opponent for Alcaraz will either be Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, the fifth seed or Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain.
To advance to the final, Cameron Norrie will compete against Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas after Varillas defeated third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals 6-4, 6-4.
To advance to the semi-finals, second seed Norrie defeated Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 5-7, 6-0, 6-3.
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