Paul Ends Alcaraz’s Streak, Beats Spaniard Again In Canada; Medvedev Upset

There will not only be a new Canadian Open champion on Sunday, but a new Masters champion.

Today, both remaining Masters winners in the draw were ushered out with the big surprise being Tommy Paul once again knocking out Carlos Alcaraz in Canada.

Paul, who beat Alcaraz last year in Montreal, did it again tonight defeating the world No. 1 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and snapping his 14-match win streak.

“I played a really good match today. I really went after my shots,” Paul told the crowd. “You can’t start any points on your heels against him or he’ll take advantage of that. So you really have to go after your shots early in the rally and I was feeling really good on the first-strike tennis. That was the difference today.

“It helps knowing that you can beat your opponent,” he added. “You never want to walk on the court and be like ‘I don’t know if I can beat this guy’. It’s the attitude you’ve got to have no matter who you are playing. I would say it helped a little bit.”

The 26-year-old had a good read on Alcaraz’s serve early and could match the Spaniard off the forehand and backhand from the ground. Paul’s speed and athleticism also helped neutralize the vaunted Alcaraz dropshot.

Alcaraz hadn’t been at his top level all week but played better tonight. However, Paul had the answers time and time again, getting the better of Alcaraz when few could.

“He’s certainly a complete player,” Alcaraz said.

“He’s a really solid player, has great talent, great shots,” added Alcaraz. “He’s really, really fast as well. So he’s one of the best players in the world right now. There’s no doubt about it. So he’s really tough on every surface. He’s a mix of everything. It makes him really, really tough.”

Paul will now meet Jannik Sinner in the semifinals after the Italian slogged through a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Gael Monfils to reach his fifth career Masters semifinal, first in Canada.

Sinner and Paul are tied 1-1 in their series.

Former champion Daniil Medvedev fell apart in both sets in a stunning loss to Alex De Minaur 7-6(7), 7-5.

Playing in his first Masters quarterfinal, the Australian was in deep trouble with Medvedev serving for the first 5-4 and then later having three set points in the breaker.

De Minaur also got down a break 4-3 in the second before covering to win four of the last five games to reach his biggest career semifinal.

“I had to play some of my best tennis today,” De Minaur said to the ATP. “It has been a great week for me so far. I played the right way today. I think having played him at the end of last year gave me the confidence that I had a chance. I just had to play the right way and I am extremely proud of the effort and to still be alive.

“I know every time I play Daniil it will be a chess match. We are both very good at adapting and playing different styles and it brings the best out of me. I have to be aggressive and take the chances I get. I think this style of tennis is my best style of tennis.”

Medvedev had won his first three against De Minaur, has lost his last two.

“He played well,” Medvedev said. “I felt it was not a bad match. I definitely could have done better to win the first set. I mean, 5-1 on the tie-break, and then 6-4, 5-3 serving for it. So could have done better.”

Tomorrow, De Minaur will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who eliminated Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-2 to reach his second career Masters semifinal.

Davidovich Fokina leads De Minaur 2-1 in their tour-level encounters. Davidovich Fokina won their most recent meeting at Queen’s Club in 2022.

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