Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion, endured a three-hour war of attrition against 13th seed Ben Shelton on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Spaniard emerged victorious 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, showcasing a blend of blistering serves, power hitting and crafty drop shots.
The opening set went down to the wire in a lengthy tiebreak, with both players trading chances until Alcaraz finally edged ahead. A crucial break in the second gave him a two-set cushion, only for Shelton to roar back in the third with two breaks of his own.
Steady under pressure, Alcaraz regained control in the fourth and served out the match as dusk settled over the clay. 'I think we both have huge respect for each other,' Alcaraz said on court. 'He's a really powerful player… I appreciate the moment we've shared today.'
Elsewhere on the red clay, Italy's Lorenzo Musetti continued his breakout season, downing Denmark’s Holger Rune 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first Roland-Garros quarterfinal. He’ll face American Frances Tiafoe, who earned his spot with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.
Meanwhile, 12th seed Tommy Paul kept the American momentum alive by defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. The USA now boasts multiple men in the Paris quarterfinals for the first time since Jim Courier and Pete Sampras in 1996. Alcaraz is set for an all-American clash in the last eight, promising another high-stakes showdown.
This year’s French Open blends raw power, tactical flair and breakthrough performances, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what lies ahead in the quest for glory on clay.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz grinds past Shelton to advance to last eight at French Open
cgtn.com
