Rio Open Highlights: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz extended his perfect record in 2023 to 7-0 after a fighting 6-4, 7-6(0) win over Serbian Dusan Lajovic to advance to the semi-finals of the Rio Open on Friday. The 19-year-old Spaniard rallied from 2-4 in both the first and second sets before putting away the World No. 80 for the second time in as many weeks, having beaten the 29-year-old 6-4, 6-2 in the Buenos Aires quarter-finals. Follow Rio Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Rio Open Highlights: Carlos Alcaraz seals seventh straight win in 2023, defeats Dusan Lajovic in quarterfinals of Rio Open 2023 – Watch Highlights
RIO SEMI-FINALS 🔒@carlosalcaraz defeats Lajovic 6-4 7-6 to advance at the #RioOpen 🙌@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/QV0bMqtM6r
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 24, 2023
Alcaraz will not be entirely happy with his performance after forcing himself to work harder than perhaps needed for victory. In addition to going down breaks in both sets and making 25 unforced errors, the Spaniard was broken at 5-all in the second despite holding a 40/0 lead in the game.
The former World No. 1 was forced to save a set point with some inspired play at net in the following game before running away with the win in the tie-break.
“That’s the point… to find a way to come back against a tough opponent,” Alcaraz said. “I had to be really focussed and be there all the time waiting for my chances.”
Closing in on back-to-back titles after triumphing in Buenos Aires last week in his season debut, the World No. 2 will meet Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry on Saturday.
Should he win his eighth tour-level title Sunday, Alcaraz will join World No. 1 Novak Djokovic with 7,070 points in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But the 10-time Australian Open champion will remain atop the rankings because he has earned more points at mandatory events during the past 52 weeks.
Rio Open Highlights: Carlos Alcaraz seals seventh straight win in 2023, defeats Dusan Lajovic in quarterfinals of Rio Open 2023 – Watch Highlights
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