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Carlos Alcaraz is two wins away from defending his Madrid Masters title! The home favorite had to work hard against Karen Khachanov at Manolo Santana Stadium, scoring a 6-4, 7-5 triumph in an hour and 50 minutes for a place in the last four.
Alcaraz played his final match as a teenager, finishing his incredible journey with 117 victories and 22 weeks as world no. 1, with plenty more to come in his 20s! Alcaraz beat Khachanov for the third time in as many encounters, overcoming a 5-2 deficit in the second set to rattle off five straight games and avoid a decider.
The Spaniard fired 29 winners and 26 unforced errors and kept the points on his racquet with his forehand. Karen delivered 14 winners and 16 mistakes, giving his everything but failing to introduce the final set despite a massive lead.
Carlos played better behind the first serve and defended four out of five break points. He stole Karen's serve three times, enough to seal the deal and remain on the title course.
Carlos Alcaraz ousted Karen Khachanov in the Madrid Masters quarter-final.
Khachanov had a slight edge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, and Alcaraz erased that deficit with a better performance in the more extended exchanges.
The Russian held in the encounter's first game after deuce, and the Spaniard came from 30-0 down in the second to level the score at 1-1. Carlos landed a service winner in the sixth game for 3-3 and earned three break chances in the next one after Karen's loose forehand.
Alcaraz landed a forehand winner on the third to grab a break and move 4-3 in front. The young gun faced a break point in game eight and landed a service winner to deny it and cement the break. Khachanov denied a set point on his serve in game nine with a forehand winner, and Alcaraz wrapped up the set with a forced error in the next one for 6-4 in 49 minutes.
The Russian raised his level at the start of the second set and grabbed a break at 2-1 to forge the advantage. Carlos struggled in those moments and faced two more break points in game six. The Spaniard saved them to remain within one break deficit before the Russian held after deuces to open a 5-2 gap.
Karen served for the set at 5-3, and Carlos landed a volley winner to pull the break back and prolong the set. Alcaraz gained a boost and created a break point at 5-5 with a lucky net cord drop shot winner. Khachanov sprayed a forehand error to experience the second straight break and allow Alcaraz to serve for the victory at 6-5.
Carlos fell 30-0 behind in the 12th game before hitting three winners for a match point. The Spaniard forced the rival's mistake on the first to emerge at the top and book a place in the semi-final.