Carlos Alcaraz dropped the first set once more but rallied in time to down Tommy Paul in four sets, keeping his Wimbledon title defense hopes alive.
The Spaniard hasn't been playing his top-level tennis at Wimbledon so far this year. He's been playing great at times, but not consistently at the level that he can produce. He's not destroying his opponents, and he's also been burned quite a few times.
Frances Tiafoe took two sets from him, and he's not the only one. He dropped a set against Ugo Humbert in the fourth round, and he also dropped a set in this quarter-final match, even though he had a really great start.
That was the most disappointing thing about that first set for the World No. 3. He broke early but then lost his serve immediately and then got outplayed by a very solid Paul. The American didn't find himself at this stage in the event for no reason.
He's playing well, highlighted by his recent Cinch Championships win. Even so, the first set was a set he may not have won on any other day. He saved 8 of 9 break points he faced, so Alcaraz left a lot on the table.
He turned it up a notch after dropping that set, winning the second 6-4. He played far better in that one, in all aspects, from rallies to serve. In the third set, he wasn't as sharp, but Paul was out of hit, committing 15 unforced errors in only eight games of play.
The American can be streaky, and in this set, he just couldn't find his level. He lost his momentum in the second set, and the third set reflected that, as he lost it 2-6. He stabilized a bit early in the fourth, but he was still outplayed by Alcaraz, who was simply too solid.
He didn't send the ball wide so often and certainly didn't rush from one error into another. In the end, it was a solid victory for the Spaniard, who keeps his hope of defending his Wimbledon trophy alive with a four-set win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul Match Stats:
| Carlos Alcaraz | Tommy Paul | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Aces | 2 |
| 2 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 62% | First Serve % | 61% |
| 66% (49/74) | Points Won After First Serve % | 58% (48/83) |
| 63% (29/46) | Points Won After Second Serve % | 49% (26/53) |
| 29% (8/28) | Break Point Conversion | 40% (4/10) |
| 36 | Winners | 21 |
| 37 | Unforced Errors | 51 |
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