Indian Wells 2022: Carlos Alcaraz beats Cameron Norrie, sets up semis with Rafael Nadal

Alcaraz is now the tournament's second-youngest semi-finalist, trailing only Andre Agassi, who was also 17 at the time.

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2022 Indian Wells. (Image: Twitter/Carlos Alcaraz)
By Nilavro Ghosh | Mar 18, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

With a high-quality and intense 6-4, 6-3 win over Cameron Norrie in the Indian Wells quarter-finals on Friday, Carlos Alcaraz set up his second career meeting with Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz, who was already the tournament’s youngest quarter-finalist since a 17-year-old Michael Chang in 1989, is now the tournament’s second-youngest semi-finalist, trailing only Andre Agassi, who was also 17 at the time.

The 18th-seeded Spaniard hit 31 winners to just 14 unforced errors to beat the in-form British player, who was a plus-eight in the winners-to-errors count himself. In a well-played and closely contested match, Alcaraz had ten and five service breaks in each set, with Alcaraz falling behind early in both.

Read More – Indian Wells 2022: Rafael Nadal survives Nick Kyrgios test, advances to semis

“It’s so special to be able to play my first semi-final in a Masters1000 here in Indian Wells, in Tennis Paradise,” Alcaraz said after the match. “I’m enjoying every single second. I have no words to describe my feelings right now.”

After trailing by a break twice in the first set, the 18-year-old won the final three games and took the set with his third break point in a five-deuce game, the longest of the night. In set two, Alcaraz undid Norrie’s strong start by breaking in each of his final three return games before serving out the match to love. Alcaraz broke six times in nine return games overall.

An all-Spanish affair

After his compatriot won their first meeting, 6-1, 6-2, in Madrid last spring, he has now earned a rematch with Nadal. On Alcaraz’s 18th birthday, on the Spanish clay, they met for the first time. Now that he’s back on American hard courts, the youngster is ready to take on the 36-time Masters 1000 champion.

Read More – What is Carlos Alcaraz’s Net Worth, Salary, Prize Money, Endorsements?

“I remember that I played really, really nervous,” he said of the Madrid game. “I think this time I trained with him a couple of times, I know more how to play against him. I think now it’s going to be a little bit different this match. Obviously he can destroy me again, but I don’t know what is going to happen.”





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