The world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz said he needs to “improve a lot of things” after Tommy Paul upset him in the Canadian Open. The loss breaks a 14-game winning streak for Alcaraz.
Paul triumphed 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. He defeated Alcaraz in Montreal last year by saving a match point.
Paul was excited to beat world no. 1 and he spoke to the news: “I played a really good match today. I really went after my shots. You can’t start any points on your heels against him or he’ll take advantage of that. So you really have to go after your shots early in the rally and I was feeling really good on the first-strike tennis. That was the difference today.”
Alcaraz who recently made history at Wimbledon by defeating Novak Djokovic said he needs to improve a lot of things. He stated: “I realize that I didn’t play well, in these matches. All I can do now is practice to be better. I have some weeks before the US Open. But right now, I have to improve a lot of things, getting more confidence in my game.”
Carlos Alcaraz shared some good words for Tommy Paul and said: “He’s certainly a complete player. He’s a really solid player. Has great talent, great shots. He’s really, really fast as well.”
The moment Tommy Paul defeated the world no.1 🤯#NBO23 @TommyPaul1 pic.twitter.com/hBv0UbgpAQ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 12, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Ranked no.1, the Spaniard played his last match on the 11th of August when he lost to world no.14 Tommy Paul 6-3 4-6 6-3 in the quarter in Toronto (draw).
This season Alcaraz owns a 49-5 record. Carlos conquered 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Carlos reached the final in Rio de Janeiro.
He is also scheduled to play at the U.S. Open (U.S. Open) after Cincinnati. The main draw will start on the 13th of August.
Paul in Toronto, ranking, and results in 2023
Currently ranked no.14 (career-high), the American has a 35-18 record in 2023. The American is currently having a run in Toronto where he ousted the world no.98 Diego Schwartzman 6-3 3-6 6-4, the world no.22 Francisco Cerundolo 7-62 6-72 6-3, the world no.70 Marcos Giron 6-3 6-2 and the world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Tommy Paul will come up against the world no.8 Jannik Sinner in the semifinal on Saturday at 7:30 pm on CENTER COURT. Their current head to head is 1-1.
Paul reached the final in Acapulco (Abierto Mexicano Telcel), in the Aix En Provence Challenger and in Eastbourne (Rothesay International).
Paul has scheduled to compete next in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 13th of August.
Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul faced off 3 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-1 for Paul. Before, the last time they fought against each other, Tommy Paul won 6-3 4-6 6-3 in the quarter in Toronto (National Bank Open) on the 11th of August 2023.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.