By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 30, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Running each other into obscure corners of the court, Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul created Vienna vertigo indoors.
Dueling in dizzying all-court rallies, Alcaraz elevated on pivotal points edging Paul 6-4, 7-6(2) to advance to his 50th Tour-level semifinal in Vienna today.
When all-court creators Alcaraz and Paul face off on any surface, their eye-popping athleticism, fast first steps and shared thrill for shotmaking can take rallies to delirious places.
Self-described Paul fan Alcaraz beat the American for the eighth time in 10 meetings—and conceded the crafty American brings the buzz.
“I think everybody could see the points we played today: great rallies, great points, great shots from both of us,” Alcaraz said after scoring his seventh straight win over Paul. “I’m really happy and I really enjoy these kinds of matches.
“I am a fan of Tommy, to be honest. I love the way he plays and I love watching him play. So for me playing against him, it’s always a pleasure.”
When it came to break points, Alcaraz showed Paul the pain game.
The second-seeded Spaniard saved all five break points he faced with bold shot-making. Alcaraz hit an ace and a pair of drop shots erasing three of those five break points with winners.
“I just hope everybody could enjoy this match—so did I—and obviously really happy with the performance I did today,” Alcaraz said. “I played great tennis probably not as confident as yesterday for example in terms of from the baseline.
“But I would say overall just happy for the battle. Happy I just found my way and finally get the win in straight sets.”
Continuing his command at the ATP 500 level, Alcaraz is now 24-0 in ATP 500 level matches since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April of 2025.
Alexander Zverev will take over as new ATP world No. 1 on Monday, but Alcaraz remains the world’s most explosive and entertaining player.,
The 30-year-old Medvedev swept aside French left-hander Adrian Mannarino, 6-2, 6-3, in today’s first quarterfinal.
The victory clinched Medvedev’s spot in the season-ending ATP Finals for the seventh time in the last eight years.
It was the seventh straight win for Medvedev, who successfully defended a title for the first time in his career in Almaty on Sunday.
A resurgent Medvedev, who saved a match point conquering Cameron Norrie in round two, powered into his 10th semifinal of the season with his ATP-best 41st hard-court win of the season.
The 23-year-old Acaraz has won six of their nine meetings, but Medvedev was a 6-3, 7-6(3) victor in their most recent match in the Indian Wells semifinals in March.
Down 15-30 in the fourth game today, Alcaraz floated forward dripping a perfect drop volley off a slick serve-and-volley. On the next point, Paul angled off a backhand return winner for the first break point. Alcaraz answered with a drop shot winner, eventually holding.
The Australian Open champion saved two break points in the sixth game—first lifting a drop shot winner then lasering an ace on the second—eventually taming trouble to level 3-All.
One reason Alcaraz has enjoyed the edge in this rivalry is superior forehand explosiveness and variety. Pouncing on a mid-court ball, Alcaraz curled a forehand winner down the line then drew an errant forehand for triple break point. A stubborn Paul staved off all three break points, hitting a forehand down the line behind the Spaniard to save the third.
On his fourth break point, Alcaraz pounded a heavy forehand approach down the line drawing a defensive error to break for 4-3.
Serving for the set, Alcaraz knocked off a couple of forehand volleys, the second kissed the tape and landed in, for double set point. On his second set point, Alcaraz closed the 51-minute opener when Paul sailed a return long.
Alcaraz hit six more winners than Paul—13 to 7—and saved all three break points in the opening set.
Serving with new balls, Paul pumped an ace down the middle, capping a love hold for a 4-3 second-set edge.
In the eight game, Paul piled on pressure again with a pair of break points. If Paul converted, he would serve for the set. Instead, the American missed a backhand return long off a second serve as Alcaraz dodged the first break point.
On the second break point, Alcaraz pulled out the second-serve-and-volley punching a forehand volley crosscourt to get back to deuce. An ace and serve winner helped Alcaraz escape Paul’s pressure as he held for 4-All after 88 minutes.
A fine forehand defensive stab from deep in the corner helped Alcaraz serve out the 12th game and force the tie break.
The Paul backhand is a reliable and versatile shot, but a pair of backhand misses from Paul helped Alcaraz take a 4-2 lead.
Dispensing damage off the forehand, Alcaraz drilled a diagonal forehand swing volley for 5-2. Paul’s third backhand error of the breaker gave Alcaraz match points. On his first match point, Alcaraz drew a forehand error to improve to 15-8 in tie breaks in 2026.
0 comments