Things took a completely unexpected turn at the Paris Olympics as the dominant duo of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz had to face a disappointing defeat. While the hopes for a medal are now over for the “King of Clay,” young Alcaraz still stands a chance. With a massive straight-set win over USA’s Tommy Paul, the Spaniard is now matched up against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian made it this far by taking down some of the toughest rivals, including Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud. While both the rivals have proved to be strong enough, who among them has better odds of winning? Let’s find out!

Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger Aliassime: Preview

Alcaraz recently faced a tough challenge in his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul because of their intense encounters in the past and Alcaraz’s packed schedule. Despite the recent disappointment of losing his doubles gold dream, Alcaraz managed to secure a straight-set victory against Paul (6-3, 7-6). Although his performance wasn’t up to the usual levels, the Spaniard still managed to defeat a top-15 player with his ability to handle pressure. With no more doubles commitment now, Alcaraz will have more time to rest and prepare for his singles matches.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, on the other hand, had a tough quarterfinal against Casper Ruud, where he missed a chance to win in straight sets and almost faced a mental breakdown. The Canadian bounced back strongly in the deciding set, making it clear that he is trying to regain his momentum despite a tough season. Felix became the first Canadian to reach the Olympic semifinals in singles by beating top-10 players Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud consecutively. This is the first time he has defeated top-10 players back-to-back since his first ATP title in Rotterdam in 2022.

Alcaraz vs Aliassime: Head-to-head

Looking at the head-to-head stats between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Carlos Alcaraz, the records show that 6 matches were played between them. The score depicts that they are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head series.

• 2021 US Open QF: Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 3-1 RET.
• 2022 Davis Cup RR: Auger-Aliassime 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
• 2022 Basel SF: Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2
• 2023 Indian Wells Masters QF: Alcaraz 6-4, 6-4
• 2024 Indian Wells Masters R32: Alcaraz 6-2, 6-3
• 2024 Roland Garros R16: Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3, 6-1

Felix will now face Carlos Alcaraz on Parisian clay, where he previously lost to Alcaraz at the French Open.

Prediction: Alcaraz to win in straight sets

Alcaraz currently stands on a winning streak because of his eleven straight victories. The Spaniard also added more to his portfolio by successfully defending his Wimbledon title by defeating Novak Djokovic. He started with an easy win against Habib, then defeated Griekspoor along with saving both breakpoints. He overcame a tough first set against Safiullin, only losing his serve once in the pre-quarters, and eventually took down Tommy Paul in tight straight sets. This made him the clear favorite, with all of his wins coming in straight sets.

Along with the recent record, Alcaraz’s playing style gives him an upper hand. He is an all-court player with an aggressive baseline game. The Spaniard’s powerful forehand is his most reliable shot, especially on the red dirt, regardless of the fact that it comes flat or with heavy topspin. His backhand is also equally strong, as it allows him to hit winners down the line.

Alcaraz’s disguised drop shot is a crucial weapon that he generally uses on clay to catch his opponents off guard. Therefore, he makes it hard for them to recover. The Canadian, on the other side, has a history of taking him down three times in history, but all victories came on much faster surfaces. This could be a challenging point for the Spaniard. Drawing a conclusion from these points, Alcaraz is expected to win in straight sets against Felix Auger-Aliassime.