Alcaraz secures a place in the semi-finals!

It wasn't Carlos Alcaraz at his best.

The undisputed favourite for Olympic gold, Alcaraz faced his first test on Thursday.

Up against an in-form Tommy Paul, who hasn't always done well for him in the past, the Spaniard struggled, particularly in the second set, but came out on top in two sets (6-3, 7-6 in 1h59).

Taking full advantage of his opponent's slackening pace in the first set (6-3), it was the El Palmar native who dropped back in intensity.

Trailing for much of the second act, he finally avoided a perilous third set, winning 5 of the last 6 games of the match.

Without necessarily shining, 'Carlito' joins the semi-finals where the winner of the match between Ruud and Auger-Aliassime will await him.