By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday October 26, 2022
The world No.1 rifled past Botic Van de Zandschulp for his 54th win of 2022 .
Carlos Alcaraz pushed into the quarterfinals at the Swiss Indoors in Basel with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.
It was a rather routine victory for Alcaraz over the world No.35. After the pair split the first six games, Alcaraz clicked on the afterburners and broke for 4-3. He would serve out the set, but fall behind in the second set, 2-0, before reeling off the final six games to notch his victory in one hour and 26 minutes.
“I think yeah I started pretty well,” Alcaraz, who is making his Basel debut, said on court after the win. “I knew that I had to start well because Botic is playing well, serving really well, and of course I start serving really well. I didn't miss on my first serve at the beginning so I would say I controlled the match and I am really happy with my performance.”
There were some tough moments in the match, but always Alcaraz had the answers. The Spaniard saved a key break point at 2-3, 30-40 in the first set and it helped pave the way to his victory, as he broke in the next game.
Alcaraz saved the point with a perfectly executed serve and volley, his slider serve down the T stretching the Dutchmen to make a weak return, which Alcaraz carefully deposited for a volley winner.
“I want to be a great player and I would say that's the difference between the top players and the good players – in the tough moments, in the close points, 30-all, deuce, that's the kind of point you have to show your your best.
"You have to play your best game, go aggressive, trying to go to the net, in my case."
The 19-year-old moves on to face either Dominic Stricker or his good friend Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarterfinals.
Auger-Aliassime edges Huesler
Felix Auger-Aliassime, winner of titles at Florence and Antwerp, stretched his winning streak to a career-best nine victories with a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler on Wednesday.
17 aces, and zero break points faced in the match helped the Canadian weather a stiff challenge from the talented wild card.
“I think matches like this are tougher mentally, in a way,” said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. “Playing indoors, quick points, both of us serving really well. You need to stay locked in and focused for two hours… If you are able to seize one opportunity, you take a break."
Auger-Aliassime remains in the lead for the 8th spot at the WTA Finals, but would need to reach the semifinals to increase his point total in the Race to Turin.