Madrid (AFP) - Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday moved into the Madrid Open semi-finals with a straight sets victory over Karen Khachanov in his final match as a teenager.
US Open winner Alcaraz, who turns 20 on Friday when the last-four ties are played, overturned 4-1 and 5-2 deficits in the second set to defeat 12th-ranked Khachanov, 6-4, 7-5.
"Winning this match will give me a lot of confidence, Karen was at a great level and took me to the limit," said Alcaraz who unleashed 31 winners.
"It was decided by small details and I am very, very happy to be able to get through this round."
The top seed triumphed in one hour and 52 minutes and will next face either German lucky loser Daniel Altmaier or Borna Coric of Croatia for a place in the final.
"It was pretty tough.The first set as well, it was close," added Alcaraz whose record on clay this year now stands at 17 wins against one defeat.
"I was in trouble in the second set, a break down and he had two break points to have the second break.So it was really tough for me to come back and he had his chances to win the second set.
"Luckily I knew I was going to have my chances.I just tried to take my opportunities and I'm really happy to get through."
If Alcaraz lifts the trophy on Sunday in the Spanish capital, he will knock Novak Djokovic from top spot in the rankings simply by playing a match at the Italian Open in Rome next week.
Djokovic missed the Madrid Open with an elbow injury.
Alcaraz blew away Alexander Zverev on Tuesday in a repeat of last year's Madrid final, but Khachanov put up stiffer opposition.
The Russian, who knocked out compatriot Andrey Rublev this week and also reached the Australian Open semi-finals, showed no fear in the first set despite his opponent's form.
'Proud' Kudermetova
Eventually Alcaraz found a decisive break to take a 4-3 lead with a strong forehand which Khachanov could not return successfully.
The Spaniard consolidated and served it out.
In the second set Khachanov broke for a 3-1 lead when Alcaraz went long after saving a first break point.
The Russian forced two more in the sixth game but could not convert either as Alcaraz fought hard to hold.
Alcaraz's perseverance paid off as he broke with a volley to get back on serve at 4-5.
The Spaniard consolidated his break and then earned another when Khachanov hit the net with an attempted forehand winner.
Aiming for his 10th tour level title the crowd-pleasing home favourite sealed his progress with a powerful forehand drive.
Russian Veronika Kudermetova ousted world number three Jessica Pegula 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in a topsy-turvy clash to reach the women's semi-finals.
The 26-year-old beat the American five-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist to reach a WTA 1000 event semi-final for the first time, recovering after a collapse in the second.
"To beat Jessica it feels very nice, I'm so proud of myself because every match I played almost three hours," said Kudermetova.
Kudermetova, the 12th seed, who won three three-set matches to reach the quarter-finals, will face world number one Iga Swiatek or Croatia's Petra Martic in Thursday's semi-final.
It will be the 26-year-old's third semi-final appearance of 2023 following Adelaide and Doha.
