Alcaraz: "That's what made me fight for every ball".

Carlos Alcaraz is in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games.

Although he didn't play his best tennis, the Spaniard provided the essentials, match after match, and even reached the semi-finals without having lost a single set.

Unaffected by the pressure, Alcaraz once again managed the important moments perfectly in his quarter-final match.

Faced with an in-form and enterprising Tommy Paul, he was able to stand his ground when needed. Initially dominant in the first set, the world No. 3 then held his nerve in the second, eventually overcoming the deficit to win in two sets (6-3, 7-6).

Visibly dulled by the succession of matches, "Carlito" spoke of his state of fatigue at his press conference.

He explained that playing for Spain gave him all the energy he needed: "Today (Thursday), I was really tired, but playing for Spain is one of the greatest things possible for me.

I noticed how tired I was in the second set, but I reminded myself that I wasn't just playing for myself, but for all Spaniards, and that's what pushed me to fight on every ball."