Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic

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PARIS -- Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the singles semifinals at a Summer Games since Novak Djokovic in 2008 by getting past Tommy Paul of the U.S. 6-3, 7-6 (7) at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Alcaraz, 21, of Spain, is just a few days older than Djokovic was 16 years ago in Beijing.

This is only the latest in a series of "youngest since" or "youngest ever" achievements for Alcaraz, who is coming off titles at the French Open -- which is held at Roland Garros, the same facility being used for the 2024 Paris Games -- in June and at Wimbledon in July.

Those trophies raised his Grand Slam trophy count to four. As it is, he was the youngest man with a major championship on hard, grass and clay courts. In 2022, he became the first teenager to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings, getting there after winning the U.S. Open.

And so on.

Carlos Alcaraz has yet to drop a set throughout singles play at the Paris Olympics. In doubles play, he and Rafael Nadal were eliminated by Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek on Wednesday. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

In the semifinals Friday, Alcaraz will take on three-time major runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway or Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada. Their quarterfinal is later Thursday. The quarterfinals on the top half of the men's bracket were the now-37-year-old Djokovic of Serbia vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, and Tokyo Games champion Alexander Zverev of Germany vs. Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.

Alcaraz and Paul, whose best showing at a major was a semifinal run at the 2023 Australian Open, are developing a bit of a rivalry. Alcaraz is now 5-2 head-to-head, which includes defeating Paul a few weeks ago in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

This one could have become a lot more complicated.

Paul nearly pushed the match to a third set.

He served for the second at 5-3 and got within two points of taking it a couple of times there, but couldn't get closer, including missing a volley off a dipping cross-court passing shot by Alcaraz, then pushing a backhand long. Alcaraz eventually broke with an on-the-run forehand passing winner after Paul smacked a terrific forehand approach shot to a corner.

The crowd went wild. Alcaraz pointed his right index finger to his ear, then raised that fist.

In the tiebreaker, Paul earned a set point at 7-6, and he conjured up a drop half-volley that Alcaraz sprinted to, then slid, and guided a down-the-line backhand that went off the edge of Paul's racket frame and toward the stands. Again, Alcaraz gestured as the spectators roared.

On Alcaraz's second set point, Paul yanked a forehand wide, and that was that.

Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic

Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic

Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic

Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic

Alcaraz into semis, youngest since Djokovic