Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after a winning point during a round of sixteen match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz returns a shot during a round of sixteen match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Russia’s Karen Khachanov returns a shot during a round of sixteen match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Britain’s Jack Draper returns a shot during a round of sixteen match against France’s Corentin Moutet at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
France’s Corentin Moutet returns a shot during a round of sixteen match against Britain’s Jack Draper at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Alcaraz sets up rematch with Draper in Italian Open quarterfinals; Sinner faces a test vs. Cerundolo
ROME (AP) 鈥 Carlos Alcaraz was made to work for a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Karen Khachanov that earned him a spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday and a rematch with Jack Draper 鈥 who beat him earlier this year.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after a winning point during a round of sixteen match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
ROME (AP) 鈥 Carlos Alcaraz was made to work for a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Karen Khachanov that earned him a spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday and a rematch with Jack Draper 鈥 who beat him earlier this year.
Alcaraz saved two break points early in the third set then dropped his serve later on to waste an early break before improving to 5-0 in his career against the 24th-ranked Khachanov.
鈥淧hysically I was struggling a little bit,鈥 Alcaraz said. 鈥淣ot any pain in any part of the body. I was just tired. I had to run a lot. I was really proud the way I fought (for) every ball.鈥
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The third-ranked Alcaraz wore a long black brace that covered the upper portion of his right leg and stretched down to just below his knee.
Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open last month due to an upper right leg ailment that bothered him during the . He also had a left leg injury.
Alcaraz, who won the in April, improved to 12-1 on clay this season. The four-time Grand Slam champion will next face No. 5 Draper, who rallied past Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico.
While Alcaraz holds a 3-2 career edge over Draper, in the semifinals at Indian Wells, California, in March.
Alcaraz is playing the Italian Open for the second time. During the Spaniard鈥檚 debut last year, he lost to then-135th-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in the third round as he dealt with a bothersome right forearm issue.
But Alcaraz then went on to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.
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Later in the other half of the draw, was to play No. 18 Francisco Cerundolo in the biggest test so far after .
Rome is the last big warmup tournament before the French Open starts May 25.
Paolini into semifinals
In the women鈥檚 quarterfinals, Jasmine Paolini rallied past Diana Shnaider 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2 to become the first Italian woman to reach the semifinals in Rome since her doubles partner, Sara Errani, lost the 2014 final to Serena Williams.
Paolini was trailing 3-0 in the second set when the match was briefly stopped due to rain. Shnaider went on to hold serve and go ahead 4-0 after the suspension but then Paolini won six straight games to take the set.
鈥淚t was a good thing that it rained for five minutes. I got some coaching from Sara,鈥 Paolini said of Errani, who was watching from the stands.
When Paolini took control in the third set, the crowd began singing, 鈥淥le, Ole, Ole; Jas-mine, Jas-mine.鈥
Paolini’s semifinal opponent will be either two-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina or Peyton Stearns, who were playing later.
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The last Italian woman to win the Italian Open was Raffaella Reggi, who took the title in 1985 in Taranto.
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