Alcaraz Upends Tsitsipas Streak In Barcelona; Carreno Busta Wins 6 Sets

Due to the Thursday rain, players had to double-up Friday and all four quarterfinal winners were forced to play three sets to make the semifinals.

Tournament star Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Jaume Munar and then in the quarters faced off against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Alcaraz beat the Greek at the US Open and in Miami, and today Tsitsipas was unable to turn the tables on the clay, falling 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

“Probably my biggest win on clay court. It was unbelievable,” said Alcaraz. “Unbelievable game that I played, unbelievable atmosphere that I lived today on court. It was unbelievable everything. The atmosphere here, the crowd, the level that I played, the level of the match. It was incredible.”

With the crowd against him, Tsitsipas fell down a double break in the second before fighting back to force a third.

Both players left the court and things got reset. Alcaraz resumed his first first masters jumping at 3-0 and easing to another big win.

“I went to the bathroom just to turn off my mind, just trying to change what I played at the end of the second set, just to be focused on the third set,” Alcaraz said. “Forget everything in the match and just give 100 per cent in the third set.”

Tsitsipas, who took Monte Carlo, had won his last seven matches. Alcaraz will now get Alex De Minaur tomorrow in the semifinals. The Australian earned a retirement from Lloyd Harris then took out Cameron Norrie in three.

Pablo Carreno Busta also joined Alcaraz in the last four. The veteran beat Lorenzo Sonego in the third round in three then saved three second set match points to upset Casper Ruud 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-3.

“I’m so, so happy for this victory,” said the marathon man Carreno Busta. “It was very emotional today playing in front of my people, in my home. I was a set down after playing three hours this morning, so it’s very, very tough to come back.

“Thanks to this crowd, because it was unbelievable to play here again in Barcelona, here in the semi-finals. I cannot be more happy.”

Diego Schwartzman will be next after the Argentine beat Lorenzo Musetti then came from a set down to oust Felix Auger-Aliassime.

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