Carlos Alcaraz ended Felix Auger-Aliassime’s run in Paris on Sunday, defeating the Canadian 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of Roland-Garros.
The two-time Grand Slam champion used his all-court game, mixing in well timed drop shots alongside his powerful baseline skills to overwhelm the 23-year-old.
The Spaniard struck 34 winners and won 13 of 18 points at net in the confident straight sets victory that took 2 hours and 20 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Read: Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov make history at Roland-Garros
It was the Canadian who got on the scoreboard first, breaking the Spaniard in the opening game, though Alcaraz immediately responded with one of his own.
The competitors stayed level until 4-3 of the first set, when the 21-year-old made his move.
Alcaraz converted on his fourth break point chance of the game, winning a 14-shot rally with a clean winner.
A confident service hold captured the opening set 6-3 in 49 minutes.
Alcaraz remained aggressive and composed in the second set; he outlasted his Canadian opponent in a nine minute service game to hold for 2-all.
With his confidence rising, he quickly broke the 21st seed for a 6-3, 3-2 lead.
Trailing by a set and a break, Auger-Aliassime called a medical timeout as he sought treatment for a groin injury.
The pause in action would do little to shift momentum. Alcaraz escaped his 3-2 service game by saving three break point chances held by the Canadian.
The Spaniard hit several dazzling shots to bewilder his 23-year-old opponent, including a one-handed backhand pass on the run.
With a full head of steam, Alcaraz would close in a hurry, winning 10 of the final 12 games to charge into the final eight in Paris.
See also: Fernandez beaten by Jabeur in third round
Auger-Aliassime’’s run to the round of 16 matched his best result in Paris – he previously reached the fourth round in 2022, before falling in a memorable five-set match against 14-time winner Rafael Nadal.
With the loss, his record now sits at 20-13 overall for 2024.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz improves to 15-4 lifetime at Roland-Garros and has now reached the quarterfinals or better at five consecutive majors.
He will face Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the quarterfinals.
