Alcaraz defeats Paul – Olympic men's singles tennis quarter-finals recap

Carlos Alcaraz is just the fifth Spaniard to make the men’s singles semi-finals since tennis was restored to the Olympics at Seoul 1988.

The 21-year-old has done it on debut at the Games as he secures a straight sets victory courtesy of a 9-7 breaker to edge out a plucky Tommy Paul in just under two hours.

It was a high-quality encounter with the match-up living up to the billing as one of the most exciting around on the men’s tour.

Alcaraz will now meet Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last four.

Incredible from both players – but it’s Alcaraz that comes up trumps!

Paul unleashes forehands down both flanks and polishes off an all-out attack tactic with a supreme volley.

Alcaraz looks on the back foot at set point down but somehow scurries from ‘Down Town’ Paris to the left edge of the net to jab away a backhand and survive.

The Spaniard crunches a forehand drive volley to earn a second match point before a deep backhand lures the error wide – and it’s the No.2 seed who prevails.

Paul’s return off a fizzing serve flies just long and his mood worsens further when he guides an angled volley at the net wide to trail 5-3.

The No.2 seed drills a return long to give Tommy hope and he levels at 5-5 with a clutch volley at the net.

Alcaraz’s heavy crosscourt forehand edges him to match point but he can’t bypass the net on the return and we’ll have another change of ends.

Paul easily picks up Carlos’ high-bounce dropper and gives it the treatment with a belting crosscourt forehand.

The No.2 seed responds with an ace and an inside-out forehand winner before lashing a poor return wide off a second serve.

It’s quickly shrugged off as the Spaniard blasts a stonking forehand winner down the line to secure the first mini break.

Tommy responds instantly with a rapid return Carlitos can only block long and it’s tied at the change of ends.

Alcaraz rallies from 0-15 with a clutch serve down the T and a deliciously delicate stun volley at the net.

Paul drills a make-able forehand long in-between but corks a zinger off the same flank to press at 40-30.

It isn’t to be for the American, however, as he shanks a forehand way off the island to ensure the set will go to a breaker.

Given the context of Paul blowing a 5-2 lead, that’s a magnificent hold.

The American is far more settled, producing a wonderful stun volley on the stretch en route to a most welcome love hold.

The No.9 seed is guaranteed the minimum of a tie-break now, but can he provide the late twist to force the decider after all?

Alcaraz’s decision to go back to basics on serve has paid major dividends. He’s gunning that first serve more regularly and not taking on the Hollywood shot needlessly. The staple forehands are enough when he’s in control of the rally.

Can Paul pick himself back up now or will the Spaniard ride the wave of momentum through from here?

Alcaraz gets the start he is looking for with a deep, deep backhand that he follows up with a clinical volley at the net.

Paul retorts with a big serve but then cannons a tight forehand way long to feel the heat at 15-30.

Carlitos initially fluffs his lines with a forehand change of direction into the tramlines, but Tommy’s nerves are on full display as he butchers a volley at the net to offer up break back point.

The frustration of the howler loosens him up and an incredible inside-in forehand winner pulls him to deuce.

The anxiety returns all too quickly, however, and when the American coughs up the second chance with another unforced error, Carlitos seizes the moment with one of the best forehand winners on the run you will ever see!

Alcaraz’s first serve does most of the lifting as he handcuffs Paul with a supreme body serve before a crushing 1-2 forehand punch concludes a game to 15.

Tommy will now serve for the set.

The momentum is firmly with Paul right now.

The American marauds through a clean hold to move within a game of forcing the decider.

The No.9 seed is a player Alcaraz has had difficulty with in their past meetings and it’s proving to be the case in this quarter final too.

‘Vamos’ – is the punchy shout from Alcaraz as he goes back to basics with a focus on big serve, big forehand/volley.

It pays dividends with his most impressive hold of the set so far that keeps him in contention.

Paul takes care of business with a very solid game to 15, leaving Alcaraz to continue to pick through the bones of what has gone wrong in his game in this second set.

Carlitos needs to find the reset button sharp-ish.

A double fault threatens to unravel him from 30-15 and he has to stand tall on a smash at the second attempt to make deuce.

A quite brilliant lob helps him stave another one off from deuce and Paul’s chances of the insurance break fade from there as the No.2 seed scampers on to the board.

Paul looks to the heavens.

He cannot believe what he’s just seen.

The American unloads a huge crosscourt forehand and then has chances to finish the game on the smash, but Alcaraz’s elastic defence is something to behold.

The four-time major winner is constantly on the backfoot but almost defies logic when he reaches behind himself to claw a forehand pass from the baseline that the No.9 seed can’t get back.

It increases the heat at deuce, but Carlitos blows the chance to snare BP when he guides a forecourt volley into the net with Paul in no-man’s land to his left.

The exasperation is etched all over the 21-year-old’s face when he guns a forehand off court and Tommy eventually consolidates with a super, punchy volley that even Speedy Gonzales can’t get back.

These are the games and moments where Tommy has to take advantage.

When Alcaraz is hot, he’s irresistible and pretty much unplayable.

But when the focus slips and the avoidable errors leak, opponents can do some damage against the Spaniard.

The game is on Carlitos’ racquet at 30-30 on a mid-court forehand but he surprisingly burrows it into the net to cough up break point.

There’s no escape this time either, as he shanks a forehand off the island to re-ignite Paul’s belief.

Carlitos has an early glimmer at 15-30 but two loose returns provide Paul with a timely boost.

The American turns away the gift with a wayward forehand, but Alcaraz misses another return and shouts something inaudible in irritation at himself.

The best rally of the game ensues with both players far more solid, but in the end it’s the Spaniard who loops a forehand wide under pressure and Tommy has a hold to open Set 2.

Last night the USA got the better of Spain the men’s doubles to end Rafael Nadal’s Paris Olympics.

It’s going the way of the La Roja so far today as Alcaraz’s power and precision on the forehand do all of the damage, allowing him fire a couple of winners off that flank down the line and seal the opener with a game to 15.

It’s a rapid hold for Paul as he keeps his hopes of recovery alive a little longer.

Alcaraz will now serve for the opening set.

Paul senses a half chance at 0-15 as he sends Alcaraz sliding low to his left, but he can only watch on in awe as the youngster pings a sensational backhand winner down the line to steal the point.

Tommy keeps the heat on at 30-30 but is unlucky with a lob just long after some bewitching cat and mouse at the net.

Alcaraz is his own worst enemy with a poor choice of drop shot into the net that prolongs the game at deuce before a pair of clutch serves help the No.2 seed to eventually consolidate.

Paul’s fabulous level dips for the first time in the match – and Alcaraz pounces!

The No.9 seed leaks a loose backhand long in the opening point and it’s the catalyst for the first big move on the return from the Spaniard.

A sizzling forehand down the line is too-hot-to-handle for the American and tees up triple break point.

Tommy saves one with a fizzing first serve, but he’s broken on the second when Alcaraz thunders a lightning return to his feet that catches him out on the surge forward for a potential serve and volley.

Alcaraz looks like he may enjoy a routine service game for a change as a lovely dropper eases him 30-0 to the good.

Paul’s having none of it and a majestic crosscourt backhand winner poses a question at 30-30.

Alcaraz answers it emphatically with a forehand wrong-footer and a wide ace to nudge the board in his favour once more.

It’s another rock-solid service game from Tommy as he leaves Carlitos with scraps to attack on the return.

So far, so good for the American, but it was a similar pattern early at Wimbledon before Alcaraz’s relentless quality saw him race clear.

Alcaraz will be delighted to be ahead on the board after three very tough games where Paul has had some big, big moments.

The American crushes an absolutely scorching forehand deep to the left corner of the baseline to threaten again at 15-30.

Alcaraz will soon have the middle name ‘Clutch’ for his insane ability to conjure up magic from situations of danger, and he does it again here with booming forehands just about breaking through some incredible defence from Tommy to lead him through to another tricky hold.

Paul shows wonderful hands on the stretch, low to his left to flick an audacious half volley over the net for a sublime winner.

It’s the pick of his points, but it’s an exceptional game overall from the No.9 seed as he backs up a devilish, low slice with a jump smash to close-out a love hold.

There’s early danger for Alcaraz as Paul shows great patience and excellent defence to retrieve the Spaniard’s explosive forehand and guide a crosscourt winner way beyond the reach of the out of position No.2 seed.

The American ups the ante further with a crushing attempt down the line that forces an error long for two break points, but Carlitos responds with a trio of HUGE serves to wipe them out and take charge from deuce.

Paul then makes life easy with a disappointing backhand way long and there’s an ‘escape from Alcaraz’ right at the start.

Alcaraz will serve first.

This is their sixth meeting with Alcaraz leading the match-up 3-2.

Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the men’s tennis quarter-final clash between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and USA’S Tommy Paul.

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