Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, secured his fourth straight-set victory at the Madrid Open on Wednesday, overcoming a tough challenge from Karen Khachanov to advance to the semifinals. The top-seeded Spaniard was down 4-1 and 5-2 in the final set before rallying late to win the final five games and secure the victory with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win. Alcaraz improved his record to 27-2 this year, with only one set dropped in his last 19 victories. This will be his third Masters 1000 semifinals of the season.
Alcaraz was able to convert his first match point after Khachanov had taken control of the second set with an early break. The Russian had two break opportunities to go up 5-1 before Alcaraz rallied for the victory. The Spaniard finished with 31 winners, converting on his first break opportunity to go up 4-3 and win the first set.
“This victory will give me a lot of confidence,” said Alcaraz, who will turn 20 on Friday. “Karen had been playing at a great level and took me to the limit. The match was decided on small details. He had the chance to win the second set, but it came down to details. I’m very happy to have advanced past a player like Karen.”
Alcaraz Aims for Second Masters 1000 Title
Alcaraz is on track to become the first player this season to win two Masters 1000 titles, having already lifted the trophy in Indian Wells. He successfully defended his title in Barcelona and also won in Buenos Aires. If Alcaraz can win the title again in Madrid and plays at least one match in Rome, he will regain the No. 1 spot in the world rankings.
Alcaraz will face either 17th-seeded Borna Coric or lucky loser Daniel Altmaier in the next round. This victory over Khachanov has given Alcaraz a lot of confidence, and he will be aiming to continue his winning streak in the tournament.
Veronika Kudermetova also reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time, upsetting third-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in the women’s quarterfinals. The 12th-seeded Kudermetova sealed her victory with an ace on her second match point to set up a semifinal match against either No. 1 Iga Swiatek or Petra Martic.
Pegula was trying to reach her second consecutive final in Madrid, but she struggled on her serve and was broken three times in both the first and third sets. Kudermetova had reached three quarterfinals at WTA 1000 level or above, all in 2022, including at Roland Garros for her best run at a Grand Slam. The 26-year-old Kudermetova had reached two other semifinals this year, in Adelaide and Doha, and entered the tournament in Madrid on a four-match losing streak.
The other women’s semifinal match will be played between second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka and ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari.
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