Alcaraz, Swiatek pass tough French Open tests

PARIS, June 3 ------ Carlos Alcaraz fought past American Ben Shelton in a tight four-set match to reach the French Open quarterfinals, while Iga Swiatek staged a comeback to defeat Elena Rybakina and keep her bid for a fourth straight title alive. Reigning champion Alcaraz clinched a 7-6 (10/8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory after three hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier to book a last-eight berth for a fourth straight year.

Alcaraz will take on Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals, after the 12th seed saw off Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. “Today I fought against myself in the mind,” he said. “In some moments I was mad, I was thinking not very good things. But I’m really happy that I didn’t let the bad thoughts play against me... I tried to calm myself down and keep going.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion saved three set points in a dramatic opening-set tie-break before clinching it himself on his second. He crucially then saved six break points in a marathon first game of the second set, before going on to win it courtesy of a break in the eighth game. American 13th seed Shelton deservedly got a set on the board to extend the match, but Alcaraz quickly bounced back.

Source: philstar.com