MADRID — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a tough test from Karen Khachanov on his way to the semifinals of the Madrid Open on Wednesday, rallying late in the second set for a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win.
Alcaraz was down 4-1 and 5-2 in the final set before winning the final five games to secure his fourth straight-set victory in Madrid. The top-seeded Spaniard improved to 27-2 this year, having dropped only one set in his last 19 victories. He will be playing in his third Masters 1000 semifinals of the season.
“I knew I had to keep fighting no matter what,” Alcaraz said. “I had to stay strong because I knew that I would have my opportunities, and gladly I took advantage of the first one that I had to close out the match.”
Alcaraz converted on his first match point after the 10th-seeded 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, who finished with 31 winners, had converted on his first break opportunity to go up 4-3 and win the first set.
Alcaraz will next face either 17th-seeded Borna Coric or lucky loser Daniel Altmaier, who will play later Thursday.
“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 had cruised past last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev in the previous round, while Khachanov — a semifinalist at the Australian Open this year and at the U.S. Open last year — had beaten fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev.
Alcaraz is trying to become the first player this season to win two Masters 1000 titles, after having already lifted the trophy in Indian Wells. He successfully defended his title in Barcelona and also won in Buenos Aires.
If Alcaraz wins the title again in Madrid, he will regain the No. 1 spot in the world rankings if he plays at least one match in Rome.
Veronika Kudermetova reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time by 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, who will play later Wednesday.
Pegula was trying to reach…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at www.espn.com – TENNIS…