Stefanos Tsitsipas misplaced the opening set however went on to defeat Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2 within the fourth spherical of the French Open on Sunday.
Tsitsipas, the No. 9 seed, saved his bid to win his first Grand Slam title alive however will face one other problem within the quarterfinals towards No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who thrashed No. 21 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
“It was one of many craziest comebacks I’ve had. The momentum appeared to be going his manner all the match,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “It was very irritating on my finish, as a result of I felt like I used to be attempting my greatest, attempting to make him transfer. Nothing actually appeared prefer it was working.”
A finalist at Roland Garros in 2021, Tsitsipas was put to the take a look at early on by Arnaldi, who ousted No. 6 Andrey Rublev within the earlier spherical. Arnaldi needed to save three break factors within the opening recreation however made the decisive break to steer 3-1 and comfortably noticed out the primary set, as Tsitsipas was unable to deal with the Italian participant’s vitality.
Tsitsipas in much more bother within the second set when Arnaldi broke to steer 3-2. However Arnaldi then did not take benefit when serving for the set at 5-4 up. Tsitsipas broke and got here out on high within the tiebreak to stage the match.
“I feel expertise was the rationale I managed to come back again at present. Even at 5-3 within the second set I felt like I can come again,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “I felt like there was energy inside me to show this match round, and I feel that recreation at 5-4 after I broke him was the most important pleasure I’ve skilled in tennis in a very long time as a result of I felt there’s a likelihood.”
Tsitsipas took his renewed confidence into the third set and broke within the first recreation. Arnaldi started to battle and Tsitsipas broke as soon as extra, and two additional breaks within the fourth set put an finish to the upset bid.
“He is one of many largest fighters I’ve performed in tennis, and he deserves numerous credit score as a result of he was pushing me to the bounds and one of many strongest opponents I’ve had on the clay courtroom season up to now,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “I actually suppose we’re going to see numerous issues from him sooner or later as a result of there are gamers at sure moments which might be a little bit extra fragile, however he appeared very composed and really sturdy in these essential moments.”
Tsitsipas will face Alcaraz in a repeat of final yr’s quarterfinal. Alcaraz, 21, has gained all 5 of their earlier conferences.
“He mentioned previously that he likes enjoying towards me, so I hope he will get to love it a little bit bit much less the following time,” Tsitsipas mentioned with a smile.
After an change of breaks early within the contest, Alcaraz wasted a number of probabilities to punish Auger-Aliassime’s serve, however he lastly acquired his reward with a sliding volley for a 5-3 lead and held his nerve to win the following recreation.
Final yr’s semifinalist showcased his expertise on the internet once more to avoid wasting a break level at 1-2 within the second set and acquired again stage after a nine-minute recreation earlier than unleashing an enormous backhand down the road to seize the lead within the subsequent recreation.
Auger-Aliassime, 23, got here out preventing following therapy for an obvious left leg harm, however Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 down to increase his lead, delighting followers with a flicked single-handed backhand winner from deep en path to a two-set benefit.
Alcaraz, with a latest arm harm, raced to a 5-0 lead within the third set earlier than closing out the match.
“I feel I performed a excessive stage of tennis. Actually targeted. No ups and downs. I am proud of all the pieces. My serve, my pictures, my motion on the courtroom,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I do know Felix is a superb participant. He is performed nice tennis. The top-to-head was 3-2 for him. I used to be wanting ahead to being equal to him. We each confirmed nice tennis at present.”
He mentioned he was relishing his subsequent match towards Tsitsipas.
“I really like these sorts of matches,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I’ve seen numerous matches these days from Stefanos. I do know he is enjoying nice tennis and has numerous confidence proper now. I’ve the important thing towards him. I am going to attempt to play the pictures that get him in bother. I am going to attempt to present my greatest.
“Hopefully the group enjoys [it] as a lot as I will. Let’s examine how it’ll be.”
In one other match Sunday, Tenth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the primary time at age 33, beating No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3) at Court docket Suzanne Lenglen on Sunday.
Dimitrov entered the day 0-2 in fourth-rounders in Paris however made it to the ultimate eight in his 14th look right here, giving him a full set of quarterfinals from the 4 Grand Slam tournaments. The Bulgarian, who will play No. 2 Jannik Sinner subsequent, acquired to the semifinals as soon as apiece on the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon.
“The French Open was the one Slam I felt like I may by no means make that additional step,” Dimitrov mentioned after dropping to his knees when the match ended. “Right now, 15 years later, I made it, so I am actually proud of that.”
Sinner moved on regardless of a terrible-as-can-be begin, getting damaged in every of his first three service video games and trailing 5-0 after 22 minutes towards unseeded Frenchman Corentin Moutet in entrance of a boisterous crowd at Court docket Philippe Chatrier on Sunday evening. However Sinner, the Australian Open champion in January, finally acquired going and gained 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.
“To illustrate there are classes at present I can study from,” mentioned Sinner, who got here into the event with questions on a hip harm that pressured him to tug out of the Italian Open final month. “I am proud of how I responded. I used to be in bother, however then I raised my stage.”
This has been a resurgent season for Dimitrov, who gained the Brisbane Worldwide in January for his first ATP title since 2017, reached the ultimate on the Miami Open in March and returned to the highest 10 within the rankings for the primary time since 2018.
He desires extra.
“My quest and my aim is to have the ability to win a Slam. I imply, if I give it some thought, in a manner, that is the one factor that’s lacking in my résumé,” Dimitrov mentioned in an interview earlier than the French Open. “However that is completely and fully my very own path. My very own aim. My very own quest.”
Dimitrov is also conscious, as he put it when speaking about his profession, “I am manner nearer to the tip than the start.”
He improved to 6-0 towards Hurkacz, a pal and frequent observe accomplice, by withstanding the large server’s 20 aces and making far fewer unforced errors (43 vs. 28).
Dimitrov’s third-round win towards Zizou Bergs was initially speculated to be finished Friday, however the rain that affected the schedule for 5 days in a row acquired in the best way.
So Dimitrov and Bergs didn’t end that match till after 10 p.m. on Saturday. That didn’t sluggish Dimitrov down one bit.
“I simply tried to organize extra mentally than the rest,” Dimitrov mentioned about on the point of meet Hurkacz on shorter-than-usual relaxation at a significant.
Reuters contributed to this report.
