Carlos Alcaraz’s red-hot run shows no sign of cooling.
The defending champion produced another ruthless performance at the Miami Open presented by Itau Tuesday, when he dispatched American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 to earn his ninth consecutive win.
Competing in front of a vocal crowd inside Hard Rock Stadium, the Spaniard brought fans to their feet with his electric shotmaking, producing drop shots, clean volleys and an array of bruising winners to triumph after one hour and 36 minutes.
"I feel at home here. It is easy to play here in Miami with all the energy I receive every day," Alcaraz said. "I am enjoying myself and I think that is the key to playing at such a high level every match. I hope to keep going."
Alcaraz is aiming to become the youngest player to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ this week after lifting his third ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells earlier this month. The 19-year-old, who needs to capture his third title of the season in Miami to remain at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will continue his quest against World No. 10 Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
"I played a really great match and I hope to play the same level in the quarter-final," Alcaraz said. "I moved well and defended well and I counter-attacked and I think if I play at that same level I will have a lot of chances to get through."
Paul defeated Alcaraz in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting in Montreal last year and entered the clash high in confidence, having earned 16 tour-level wins this season. Competing in the fourth round in Miami for the first time, the Australian Open semi-finalist was unable to match Alcaraz’s intensity, however, with the Spaniard forcing the 16th seed into errors with his depth and weight of shot from the baseline.
Alcaraz struck the ball with full commitment, hitting 22 winners compared to nine from Paul and was sharp moving forward, winning 12 of 13 net points to improve to 17-1 on the season.
The defending champion produced another ruthless performance at the Miami Open presented by Itau Tuesday, when he dispatched American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 to earn his ninth consecutive win.
Competing in front of a vocal crowd inside Hard Rock Stadium, the Spaniard brought fans to their feet with his electric shotmaking, producing drop shots, clean volleys and an array of bruising winners to triumph after one hour and 36 minutes.
"I feel at home here. It is easy to play here in Miami with all the energy I receive every day," Alcaraz said. "I am enjoying myself and I think that is the key to playing at such a high level every match. I hope to keep going."
Alcaraz is aiming to become the youngest player to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ this week after lifting his third ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells earlier this month. The 19-year-old, who needs to capture his third title of the season in Miami to remain at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will continue his quest against World No. 10 Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
"I played a really great match and I hope to play the same level in the quarter-final," Alcaraz said. "I moved well and defended well and I counter-attacked and I think if I play at that same level I will have a lot of chances to get through."
Paul defeated Alcaraz in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting in Montreal last year and entered the clash high in confidence, having earned 16 tour-level wins this season. Competing in the fourth round in Miami for the first time, the Australian Open semi-finalist was unable to match Alcaraz’s intensity, however, with the Spaniard forcing the 16th seed into errors with his depth and weight of shot from the baseline.
Alcaraz struck the ball with full commitment, hitting 22 winners compared to nine from Paul and was sharp moving forward, winning 12 of 13 net points to improve to 17-1 on the season.