Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka reach Cincinnati quarters
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his win against Luca Nardi.
Getty Images via AFP
Follow topic:
CINCINNATI – Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka both led the way into the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals on Aug 13, with Alcaraz showing what he is made of with an impressive straight-sets victory.
Sabalenka, taken to three sets in her previous match with Emma Raducanu, regrouped after surrendering a second-set service break to defeat Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-5.
Alcaraz, the second seed who has reached the final of his last six tournaments, hammered Italian qualifier Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4 in a convincing win.
“This match was my best so far of the tournament,” the Spanish world No. 2 said.
“As I mentioned at the beginning of the week, my goal was to be a little better in each match I played, in each training session I had, something that I think I am achieving as the days go by, so I am proud of this.
“It’s incredible to see how I’m evolving in this tournament. Today, for example, I am very happy with how I felt the ball on the court and also with how I moved. I am proud of that.
He next faces ninth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev.
In the women’s draw, after her marathon victory against Raducanu, world No. 1 Sabalenka was pleased to get off the court in straight sets against Bouzas Maneiro.
“The key was to focus and put as much pressure as possible on her serve,” said the Belarusian.
“I’m glad to win in straight sets, I didn’t want to stay for three hours.”
Sabalenka has been working on her net play with the help of her coaching team, which includes newly appointed consultant Max Mirnyi.
“I feel really comfortable approaching the net, but then I make some really not smart decisions at the net, but I feel really confident,” she explained during another interview with The Tennis Channel.
“I’m hoping that by the end of the week, I’ll improve that stat and I’ll be much better at the net.”
Sabalenka will next face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2.
In other matches, third-seeded Alexander Zverev had to take to the court twice to reach the quarters – although both outings were relatively short-lived.
The German started his day by polishing off a 6-4, 6-4 third-round victory over Brandon Nakashima in a match continued from the previous day.
The entire one-game exercise, with 2021 Cincinnati winner Zverev leading 6-4, 5-4 when play resumed, took less than two minutes.
Hours later, he advanced to the quarters when Karen Khachanov retired with Zverev leading 7-5, 3-0.
Fifth seed Ben Shelton, last week’s Toronto champion, reached the last 16 with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in a match rescheduled from Aug 12.
Women’s third seed Iga Swiatek beat Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3, overcoming 33 unforced errors in a 95-minute victory to set up a last-eight date with Anna Kalinskaya.
“I wanted to be more solid than in my last match,” Wimbledon champion Swiatek said.
“I’m happy with the level of my focus and the consistency.” AFP
