TOKYO:World number one Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the semifinals of the Japan Open on Sunday with a commanding 6-2 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima, while Danish third seed Holger Rune was sent packing by Jenson Brooksby.
Alcaraz, who overcame an injury scare in his straight-sets win over Argentine Sebastian Baez in Thursday’s opener, showed scintillating form to dispatch Nakashima for his 65th win of the season, thumping 39 winners in the one-hour 20-minute contest.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh from reclaiming top spot in the world rankings after clinching his sixth Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month, next faces Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud.
Earlier, Ruud blazed past Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic with a clinical 6-3 6-2 win.
“These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s great to go through, to play another semifinal. It’s special, because it’s the first time I’m playing in Japan, here in Tokyo. To reach the semis in my first appearance is something great.”
The biggest upset of the day came in Rune’s 6-3 6-3 loss to American Brooksby, ranked 86th in the world.
“Once I get on a roll from a couple of matches, I just think I’m really able to get into my zone. I think that’s one of my big strengths,” Brooksby said.
“I thought I had a pretty good plan on him coming out here. I had never played him before, but I think that’s good maybe, someone who hasn’t faced my unique skills, I guess.
“I had a good rhythm from the first two matches and thought I was playing really good tennis, and I think I just stayed a little bit more consistent today.”
Wimbledon semifinalist Taylor Fritz overcame a second-set blip to beat Sebastian Korda 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 in an all-American clash.
Second seed Fritz, who is set to climb to fourth in the ATP rankings on Monday, overtaking Novak Djokovic, will take on Brooksby in the semis.
Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out
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Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out
- “These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said
Villa and Forest win in Europa League as Celtic thrashed by Roma
- Villa sit on 15 points and are third in the Europa League standings, guaranteed of at least a playoff place
- Lyon won 2-1 at home to Go Ahead Eagles to stay above Midtjylland, who claimed a 1-0 victory over Genk
PARIS: Aston Villa beat Basel 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday to secure their eighth successive win, while Nottingham Forest won at Utrecht as Celtic suffered a heavy home defeat by Roma.
Evann Guessand struck the opener for Villa in Switzerland but the hosts hit back when Flavius Daniliuc glanced Xherdan Shaqiri’s flighted free-kick past a hesitant Marco Bizot.
Youri Tielemans steered in the winner from just outside the area early in the second half as Unai Emery’s side picked up their fifth victory in six league phase games this season. They have won 14 of their last 16 matches in all competitions.
“I am happy and we knew before the match the difficulties we were facing today,” Emery told TNT Sports. “After the last matches, a lot of wars. Brilliant wars for us, after our victory against Arsenal, it is not easy to recover.
“The last 10 minutes they were close to drawing but I am happy with how we got this victory. It is difficult to beat them here.”
Villa sit on 15 points and are third in the Europa League standings, guaranteed of at least a playoff place. They trail leaders Lyon and Midtjylland only on goal difference.
“Where we are now is very good. We have two more games. Two tough games. We just want to win both games and see where we are at,” said Tielemans.
“The first two spots would be amazing, but then if not, in the top group and hopefully qualify.”
Forest end 30-year wait
Forest bolstered their hopes of qualifying directly for the last 16 with a 2-1 win at Utrecht.
Arnaud Kalimuendo swept Forest shortly after the break in the Netherlands before the Dutch side levelled through a header from Mike van der Hoorn.
Igor Jesus slotted through a crowd two minutes from time to clinch a first away victory in Europe for Forest since 1995, keeping them two points adrift of the top eight.
“I’m very pleased with the players and the result, and long may it continue. I’m pleased for everyone concerned,” said Forest manager Sean Dyche.
Wilfried Nancy became the first Celtic boss to lose his first two games as the Scottish champions went down 3-0 to Roma.
An own goal from Liam Scales handed Roma a sixth-minute lead in Glasgow and on-loan striker Evan Ferguson’s first-half brace sealed the points for the Italian side.
“The reality is we were not able to cope with the intensity,” said Nancy, the 48-year-old Frenchman who was appointed by Celtic last week.
“Second half was better. I cannot tell you (the players) didn’t try, they tried. I’m not concerned, I really liked the reaction.
“The result isn’t what we want but I’ve seen good things.”
Rangers were all but knocked out of Europe after sliding to a fifth defeat in six games. They lost 2-1 to Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros, who are coached by former Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane.
Bojan Miovski put Rangers ahead in Budapest but the hosts equalized just before half-time and Hungary international Barnabas Varga powered in the winner to leave the visitors with only one point in the competition.
Lyon won 2-1 at home to Go Ahead Eagles to stay above Midtjylland, who claimed a 1-0 victory over Genk.
