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Alcaraz youngest man to reach French Open last 16 since 2006 / Photo: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT - AFP
NYSE - LSE
Alcaraz youngest man to reach French Open last 16 since 2006
Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to make the fourth round at the French Open on Friday since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
Alcaraz, 19, beat Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 as he avenged last month's loss to the American at Monte Carlo -- his only defeat on clay this year in 21 matches.
His comfortable victory was in stark contrast to his troubles in the third round when he had to save a match point and go five sets to defeat compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Playing in the tougher half of the draw, Alcaraz could face third seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
Defending champion and world number one Djokovic and 13-time winner Rafael Nadal are potential semi-final opponents.
However, the teenager defeated all three on his way to the Madrid Masters title earlier this month.
"I think I am ready," he said. "If I win this tournament I would say it's my golden ticket."
The sixth seed goes on to face Karen Khachanov, the 21st seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Khachanov, who knocked out British 10th seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the last 16, made the quarter-finals in 2019.
"I just practice with him just once, but I watch other matches from him, so I know that it's going to be a tough match," said Alcaraz.
"But at the same time as well he's a tough opponent and I like those matches."
(L.Kaufmann--BBZ)
