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World no. 1 and defending Miami Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is safely through into the quarter-final in Florida. Carlos faced an in-form Tommy Paul in the fourth round and scored a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 36 minutes.
The Spaniard is three wins away from keeping the title and remaining on the ATP throne ahead of Novak Djokovic. Tommy prevailed over Carlos in Canada last year but stood no chance in this one. Alcaraz played better behind the first and second serve and dropped 14 points in ten service games, saving the only break point and keeping the pressure on the other side.
The American played against six break points and gave serve away once in each set to finish his journey in the fourth round. Carlos tamed his strokes nicely and hit 22 winners and 23 unforced errors. He reduced his opponent to under ten winners and left him behind in the mid-range exchanges to seal the deal in straight sets.
Tommy fired 20 service winners, which was insufficient to keep him safe after experiencing issues in five service games.
Carlos Alcaraz took down Tommy Paul in straight sets in Miami.
The American closed the encounter's first game with an ace, hoping for a good run and seeking his 13th consecutive triumph over the Spaniards!
Alcaraz held at 30 in game two before his rival secured the next one with a mighty forehand for 2-1. World no. 1 crcked a forehand down the line winner in the fourth game and stepped in on the return in the next one. Paul sprayed a forehand error to face three break points and netted a backhand right after the serve on the first one to push Alcaraz 3-2 in front.
Carlos painted a forehand down the line winner in the sixth game to confirm the advantage and settle into an excellent rhythm. Paul played against two break points in game seven and denied them to remain within one break deficit.
A teenager left them behind and grabbed the eighth game with a booming serve for 5-3. The Spaniard served for the opener at 5-4 and missed a set point. Paul won a thrilling point with a smash winner to create a break chance, his only of the match.
Carlos saved it with a service winner, fired another and wrapped up the set with a drop shot winner for 6-4 in 49 minutes. Alcaraz squandered a break chance at the start of the second set with a loose forehand before creating another break opportunity at 1-1 after Paul's forehand error.
The American placed another forehand beyond the baseline to lose serve and find himself a set and a break down. With a boost, Alcaraz secured the fourth game with a forehand winner and moved closer to the finish line. Carlos placed an incredible backhand crosscourt winner in the sixth game and held at 15 for 4-2.
The Spaniard earned a match point on the return at 5-3 and missed it after a forehand error. However, Carlos served for the victory at 5-4 and held at 15 with a mighty backhand down the line that propelled him into the last eight.