World quantity two Carlos Alcaraz clawed again a break in each units and dominated the tiebreaker to beat Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) on Friday within the ATP Rio Open quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old Spaniard notched his third win in three matches towards 32-year-old Lajovic, together with a quarterfinal win over the Eightieth-ranked Serbian within the quarterfinals on the Argentina Open final week.
Alcaraz went on to win that title to cement his return from a four-month harm layoff that noticed him miss the Australian Open.
In semifinals Saturday, Alcaraz will face Chilean Qualifier Nicolas Jarry, who toppled sixth-seeded Sebastian Baez of Argentina 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).
Alcaraz is looking for to defend the title that made him the youngest ever winner of an ATP 500 event final yr.
Second-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie booked his semifinal berth with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Bolivian Hugo Dellian.
Norrie, making an attempt to succeed in his third ultimate of the yr, will face Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who beat compatriot Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Alcaraz improved his good document in 2023 to 7-0, however he needed to determine some issues out alongside the best way.
“It was a really sophisticated match,” Alcaraz stated. “Dusan has an amazing forehand, an amazing backhand, an amazing serve, superb pictures, and right now he has proven it, he has given a recital.
“However I used to be strong. In the long run, I used to be very completely satisfied to have solved these issues.”
Alcaraz trailed 2-4 in each units, reeling off the final 4 video games of the primary earlier than discovering himself in one other battle within the second.
He belted 32 winners to Lajovic’s 13 and gained 16 of 17 factors on the internet.
However 25 unforced errors contributed to the difficulties that noticed him go down an early break in each units.
Within the second, he broke again with a stinging backhand winner to degree the set at 4-4.
He led 40-0 within the eleventh sport solely to give up his serve and saved a set level on the best way to a break within the subsequent sport that compelled the tiebreaker.
“These moments are the place the superb gamers differ from the remainder of the gamers, and I attempt to play at my highest degree,” Alcaraz stated.
Alcaraz, whose 5 titles final yr included the US Open and made him the youngest-ever world primary, was dominant all through the decider, placing it away on his first match level with a forehand passing winner.