by Carlos Alcaraz expects a strong challenge from Tommy Paul in the French Open quarter-finals on Tuesday because the title of women, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, want to set up a blockbuster clash.
The reigning master’s master Alcaraz is up to the last eight in Roland Garros for the fourth time in a row and wants to be the third man in this century to Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal, who defend his title.
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Alcaraz has fallen in the last three rounds in the last three rounds and said: “I fought in my head against myself” after a hard victory with four sets against Ben Shelton in the last 16.
The 22-year-old Spaniard organizes a 4-2 career record against Paul, the 12th US Seed, which Alcaraz defeated in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Paris on the way to a silver medal last August.
“I remember that every game I played against him was really hard,” said Alcaraz.
“His level is currently very high. He has a lot of confidence.
“It will be a really interesting game, because every time we play against each other, we also climb our level to the top.”
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When Alcaraz Paul comes by, he will meet the winner of the other quarter -finals on Tuesday between the Italian Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe.
Musetti was one of the formal players on Clay this season and reached at least the last four in all three most important warm-up events in front of the French Open.
Both Musetti and the 15th US seed Tiafoe appear for the first time in this phase of Roland Garros.
Tiafoe, a semi -finalist from US Open twice, still has to drop a set in Paris and is confident that he can go even further.
“When I play well, I am there and have fun and fun, I think the sky is the border for me.”
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– Swiatek, Sabalenka on a collision course –
Swiadek came with serious doubts about her favorite tournament of her ability to win a fifth French Open in six years after a long trophy village.
The 24-year-old Pole has not won a title 12 months ago since the Coupé Suzanne Lenglen Coupé was lifted.
It was put to the test by Elena Rybakina, which was led by a set and a break before Swiatek escaped trouble to book a quarter -finals with Elina Svitolina.
“It means a lot. I think I needed this profit to feel these feelings that I can win under pressure,” said Swiatek, after dropping their 25th victory in the French Open.
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“It’s a great confirmation for me. Yes, I certainly wanted to have such a match.”
The Ukrainian 13th Seed Svitolina achieved an even more remarkable comeback against Jasmine Paolini 2024 and saves three game points to reach her fifth Roland Garros quarter-finals.
The 30-year-old has never been reached in the last four, but will hope that husband Gael Monfils’ run in the semi-finals in 2008 will finally be with the run by husband.
This French connection also guarantees that Svitolina in Paris has a reasonable share of supporters.
“I have loved here in France for so many years and still love to play here in France,” she said.
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“The support is amazing. They urge me to play better … that’s a great feeling when the amount gives them this additional energy.”
Number 1 in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, is a revenge mission against the Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen after recently lost to the Chinese star in Rome.
Zheng defeated Sabalenka for the first time in seven attempts and will try to repeat the trick against the player against whom she lost in the Australian Open final 2024.
“I expect a great battle and I am very happy to put you in the quarter -finals and I want to get my revenge. Yes, I want to get this victory in Rome,” said Sabalenka.
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Madrid champion Sabalenka is ready to go in Paris, where their best performance was the semi-finals two years ago to reach the semi-finals.
“I think I improved a lot in my game last year, and I think now that when I go to the French Open, I have no doubt that I can’t play on sound, so maybe I’m safer this year.”
A victory against Zheng could set up a highly expected last-four showdown with Swiadek.
MW/JC
