Berliner Tageblatt - Alcaraz grinds past Shelton to reach Roland Garros last eight

NYSE - LSE
RBGPF 0% 70 $
RYCEF 1.11% 19.78 $
CMSC -0.36% 20.92 $
VOD 3.08% 16.58 $
BTI 0.52% 55.97 $
RIO 0.09% 102.84 $
AZN 1.91% 164.77 $
GSK 0.85% 50.87 $
NGG 0.15% 78.17 $
BCE 1.72% 23.81 $
BCC 1.05% 77.12 $
RELX 4.09% 36.65 $
CMSD 0.1% 20.76 $
JRI 1.06% 12.21 $
BP -0.8% 43.58 $
Alcaraz grinds past Shelton to reach Roland Garros last eight
Alcaraz grinds past Shelton to reach Roland Garros last eight / Photo: © AFP

Alcaraz grinds past Shelton to reach Roland Garros last eight

Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz won a war of attrition with American 13th seed Ben Shelton to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Monday.

Text size:

The Spaniard emerged victorious 7-6 (10/8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after over three hours of blistering serves and power-hitting on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Another American awaits Alcaraz in the last eight after 12th seed Tommy Paul earlier defeated Alexei Popyrin in straight sets.

The four-time Grand Slam winner edged a tight first set, which produced only one unconverted break point, at the end of a lengthy tiebreak that saw both players have chances to clinch the opener.

When Alcaraz finally forced a break against the big-serving Shelton in the second set, it was enough for him to move into a two-set lead.

But once again Alcaraz failed to see out a straight-sets victory as Shelton produced two breaks of serve to edge the most open of the four frames.

The 22-year-old nonetheless bounced back to gain the advantage in the fourth set, before serving out as dusk descended over centre court.

F.Müller--BTB