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Munar upsets second seed Fognini
#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz reached another major milestone with his victory over sixth seed Feliciano Lopez at the AnyTech356 Andalucia Open on Thursday. The 17-year-old booked his spot into the first Tour-level quarter-final of his career after rallying back against 39-year-old Lopez 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Alcaraz looked undaunted by the occasion when he stepped out onto Estadio Manolo Santana against seven-time titlist Lopez. His opponent turned pro in 1997, six years before Alcaraz was born in 2003, and had amassed almost 500 wins in his career.

The 17-year-old, who is contesting his sixth Tour-level main draw, needed just over two hours to defeat his fellow Spaniard. Lopez’s experience was on display as he took the opening set from a break down, but Alcaraz honed in on the sixth seed’s vulnerable second serve. He was rewarded with 10 break opportunities across three sets, converting on five occasions.

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Coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero, the young Spaniard has been checking off many ‘firsts’ this season after ending 2020 as the youngest player in the Top 600. After successfully navigating his first Australian Open appearance and first Grand Slam main draw win to start the season, Alcaraz continued his momentum in Marbella.

Alcaraz will next face third seed Casper Ruud, who booked his own quarter-final spot after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gianluca Mager.

Earlier in the day, Jaume Munar claimed his first Top 20 victory of the year in style, dropping just three games against second seed Fabio Fognini to reach the quarter-finals.

17-year-old rounds out all-Spanish semi-finals
#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz booked a spot into his first ATP Tour semi-final at the AnyTech365 Andalucia Open after an electrifying 6-2, 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud on Friday.

In a battle between the two youngest players left standing in Marbella, it was the 17-year-old who came out swinging and fearlessly crushing winners off both wings against 22-year-old Ruud. Alcaraz broke the Norwegian's serve five times en route to the last four.

The victory made Alcaraz the youngest ATP Tour semi-finalist in seven years, since 17-year-old Alexander Zverev’s run at Hamburg in 2014. Alcaraz is contesting his sixth ATP Tour main draw in Marbella.

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Alcaraz made a fast start against Ruud on Estadio Manolo Santana, powering to a double break with his heavy groundstrokes. The Spaniard took the ball early and had Ruud under pressure as he created break opportunities in each of the Norwegian’s four service games in the opening set, converting on three occasions.

Ruud responded by raising his level in the second set, and the pair settled into a tense servers’ contest – through the first six games, Ruud and Alcaraz only lost two points combined on serve. But once again, the teenager struck first with a fearless spate of winners to grab the lead at 4-3, and kept his nose in front to seal a spot into the final four.


With his victory, Alcaraz set a dream semi-final line-up for Spanish tennis fans in Marbella. All four semi-finalists at the ATP 250 event hail from Spain, with Alcaraz set to face countryman Jaume Munar for a shot at the championship match.