French Open: Tsitsipas rallies to reach fourth quarter-final, Alcaraz eases into last eight

Stefanos Tsitsipas (Pic: AFP)

Stefanos Tsitsipas came back from a set down to defeat Matteo Arnaldi and reach the French Open quarter-finals for the fourth time on Sunday. Greek ninth seed Tsitsipas, who was runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros in 2021, won 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2. His reward is a clash with Carlos Alcaraz for a place in the semi-finals.

World number 35 Arnaldi from Italy had stunned sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev in the third round but wasted a golden opportunity against Tsitsipas when he let four set points in the second set slip away.

"It was one of the craziest comebacks I've had," said Tsitsipas. "The momentum seemed to be going his way the entire match, it was very frustrating on my end. Nothing really seemed like it was working.

"I think the spirit was the reason I managed to come back today. That game at 5-3 when I broke was the biggest pleasure I've experienced in tennis for a long time."

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Alcaraz boasts a 5-0 career head-to-head record over Tsitsipas with three wins on clay. That includes a straight-sets win in the quarter-finals in 2023.

"He has said in the past he likes playing against me, so I hope he gets to like it a little bit less this time," said the Greek.

Carlos Alcaraz strolled past 21st seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday to make the quarter-finals of the French Open for the third year in succession. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who made the semi-finals in Paris 12 months ago before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, pumped 34 winners past an ailing Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian took a medical timeout while 3-2 behind in the second set for an apparent leg injury and won just two more games as Alcaraz delivered his best performance of the tournament. Two-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz will go up against 2021 Roland Garros runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the last four. Alcaraz has won all five past encounters, including a straight-sets win over Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of last year's French Open.

(With agency inputs)