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via Reuters

via Reuters

It’s time for a popcorn match in Paris! Are you ready to witness an action-packed clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the QF of the 2024 French Open? Alcaraz has showcased a consistent performance throughout the year so far. Looking at his performance so far in this tournament, it looks as if the Spaniard has now almost fully recovered from his arm injury. Stefanos Tsitsipas on the other hand, has looked like a completely different player on the clay courts this season. Both the players have already won a title this year, but they’re now hungry for more!

Carlos Alcaraz announced himself on the biggest stage of the tennis world as a teenager by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller at the 2021 US Open. He has already revealed that loves playing against the Greek. But Stefanos Tsitsipas believes he’s in a lot better position than he was in their previous meetings, so his goal will be to come up with a tough challenge against the world number 3. “Playing against Carlos will ignite my internal flame. I want to go out and show everyone what I’ve achieved,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said in a recent interview.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: Preview

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Apart from winning a title this year, Alcaraz has reached one SF and three QFs this season in his previous tournaments. He defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in his previous match by 6-3,6-3,6-1. If we look at the numbers from that match, the Spaniard hit just one ace and committed two double faults against the Canadian. He won 75% of his first serve and 58% of his second serve. However, Carlos Alcaraz could only manage to convert just six of his sixteen breakpoints against Aliassime.

Carlitos has fired 68 aces so far this season and committed 38 double faults. He has won 87% of his service games and 34% of his return games. Getting the lead right from the start of the match will be the key to success for the Spaniard against the number 9 on Tuesday (June 4).

Stefano Tsitsipas won a title in Monte Carlo this year but other than that he has also reached one final, one SF, and two QFs in the rest of the tournaments this year. The 25-year-old Greek tennis heartthrob defeated the in-form Matteo Arnaldi in the fourth round by 3-6,7-6(4),6-2,6-2. Throughout the match, he kept on grinding and hit seven aces against the Italian. Tsitsipas committed five double faults in that match and his first serve win percentage was 74% while it was just around 62% on the second serve. He converted just five of his twenty-one breakpoints against Arnaldi.

The Greek tennis star has hammered 191 aces so far this season and has committed 95 double faults. He has won nearly 85% of his service games and 27% of his return games. But he needs to be more neat and clean with his numbers to stand a chance against an opponent like Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz vs Tsitsipas: Head-to-Head

This will in fact be a rematch of last year’s QF at the French Open. They have met each other five times in their career so far and it has been a one-sided battle so far. Carlos Alcaraz currently leads the H2H 5-0 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. But as we’ve mentioned earlier, Stefanos Tsitsipas has looked completely different player on the clay this season. But if talk about their previous meetings, Carlos Alcaraz won their first encounter by 6-3,4-6,7-6,0-6,7-6 in the third round of the 2021 US Open.

Their latest faceoff was at the 2023 French Open and in that QF match, Alcaraz took just three sets to topple the Greek tennis star. The Spaniard hit six aces in that match and committed just one double fault. Stefanos Tsitsipas hit five aces and committed an equal number of double faults. Alcaraz won 79% of his first serve and 69% of his second serve, while Tsitsipas won 61% of his first serve and 47% of his second serve. He converted one out of his two breakpoints against Alcaraz but the Spaniard converted six out of his twelve breakpoints. Who’ll win this match of two in-form players in Paris this time around?

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Prediction: Alcaraz to win in five sets

This match has a higher chance of going deep. Both the players will be looking forward to outclassing each other with their classy brand of tennis. Stefanos Tsitsipas will need to perhaps figure out how to tackle Carlos Alcaraz’s high-intensity game on clay. Carlos Alcaraz on the other hand, will be keen to stop the Greek’s incredible run on the dirt. Both the players come up with an aggressive baseline style of play. Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand is one of his most lethal weapons, but he can also disguise his opponents with his extraordinary drop shots.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas will aim to hit powerful groundstroke winners and use his one-handed backhand shot as much as he can in this match. He even has a strong forehand just like Alcaraz but is it enough it stop Carlitos? Perhaps not! The Spaniard reached the SF of this tournament in 2023 while Tsitsipas reached the final in the 2021 French Open. However, Alcaraz’s consistency this season will give him a slight edge over Tsitsipas in this nail-biting contest.