logo
Alcaraz hopes to learn from mistakes ahead of Paul quarter-final

Alcaraz hopes to learn from mistakes ahead of Paul quarter-final

PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz eliminated "dumb mistakes" from his game to see off Ben Shelton on Sunday and hoped to learn from his experience to avoid another tough workout when he plays American Tommy Paul in the French Open quarter-finals.
The defending champion was put through the wringer in his third-round match by Damir Dzumhur and was unable to show his usual aggressive side against Shelton, who dragged him into battle before losing 7-6(8) 6-3 4-6 6-4.
"I was really focused and trying to show my good tennis, playing aggressively, hitting great shots," Alcaraz said.
"In the beginning it was difficult for me to play at that level. I just tried to play more solid than aggressive. Probably I made dumb mistakes that I had to go for it all the time. I found the right way in the match.
"I tried to keep it in that direction, but tennis is like that. One round you're playing against one opponent and the next round you're playing a totally different game so you have to get used to the game from the opponent."
While Shelton may not be the most natural player on clay, Paul represents a different kettle of fish and Alcaraz said he was aware of what could be in store for him when they meet in the last eight.
"I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough. In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all," Alcaraz said.
"I lost a few matches against him as well. He's in the quarter-finals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence, I'm pretty sure. It's going to be an interesting match.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Soccer-Barca-Villarreal LaLiga match in Miami moves closer after RFEF approval
Soccer-Barca-Villarreal LaLiga match in Miami moves closer after RFEF approval

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Soccer-Barca-Villarreal LaLiga match in Miami moves closer after RFEF approval

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Villarreal - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - May 18, 2025 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Villarreal's Sergi Cardona REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish football could finally cross the Atlantic after the Royal Spanish Football Federation approved a request for Barcelona and Villarreal to play their December LaLiga match in Miami – a move nearly a decade in the making. The RFEF board gave the green light on Monday for the teams' matchday 17 game to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20 in the first step towards the competition playing an official match abroad for the first time in its history. The proposal now heads to European soccer's governing body UEFA before requiring final approval from FIFA – the last hurdle in LaLiga President Javier Tebas' American dream. "At its meeting on 11 August 2025, the RFEF Board of Directors received a request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to play their match on matchday 17 of the first division in the United States," RFEF said in a statement. "... the Royal Spanish Football Federation will submit the request to UEFA to begin the process for subsequent authorisation by FIFA for the match to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 20 December 2025 ..." LaLiga has been pursuing their transatlantic vision for almost a decade, emulating the strategy employed by the NFL and NBA to establish themselves in other markets. Tebas' first attempt came in the 2018-19 season with a proposed Girona-Barca match in the U.S. that never materialised. A planned Villarreal-Atletico fixture for 2019-20 also fell through, with the matter ending up in the courts after the RFEF refused authorisation. The courts sided with the Spanish Federation, then under Luis Rubiales, who was sacked in 2023 for kissing team player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth celebrating Spain's women's World Cup victory in Sydney. There was another near-miss last season, with a Barcelona-Atletico match almost proceeding before LaLiga pulled back at the last minute to better structure the project. Now, with regulatory barriers cleared and internal conflicts resolved, the Villarreal-Barca clash appears poised to finally deliver Spanish football's long-awaited American adventure. (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Gillian makes history as PWBA Rookie of Year
Gillian makes history as PWBA Rookie of Year

Borneo Post

time8 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Gillian makes history as PWBA Rookie of Year

Gillian proudly displays the PWBA Rookie of the Year trophy. KUCHING (Aug 11): The Sarawak bowling fraternity is beaming with pride as local sensation Gillian Lim has etched her name in sports history by winning the 2025 Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Rookie of the Year Award. She is the first Malaysian to be awarded this prestigious global accolade. Gillian finished as the standout rookie of the season for leading all rookies in PWBA ranking points, earnings and top-12 tournament finishes. The 26-year-old amassed 37,230 points far ahead of Canadian Jade Cote (23,615) and American Kirsten Moore (17,645) to establish herself as one of the brightest new talents on the world stage. Her debut season in the pro circuit was marked by consistent and world-class performances across major tournaments in the US including the PWBA Go Bowling Topeka Open, USBC Queens, PWBA Summer Series – Cleveland, PWBA Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open, US Women's Open and PWBA Tour Championship Week. Only four bowlers from outside the US have received this annual top rookie award. Gillian as the first Malaysian to join this elite list helps to cast a global spotlight on Sarawak's bowling excellence. Born and raised in Miri, Gillian's love for bowling began at just eight years old while studying at SK St Joseph and SMK St Joseph Miri. She graduated from Sunway College and became a rising star in the Amateur Bowling (Tenpin) Association of Sarawak (ABAS) ranks, representing the state in Sukma and other national championships. Her national career took off when she joined the national youth team in 2008. She was promoted to the Podium Programme in 2020 where she continued to shine as a core member of the Malaysian national team. 'This is not just my win — it's a win for Sarawak and Malaysia. I hope my journey inspires young bowlers back home to dream big and work hard, because nothing is impossible,' she told ABAS in an interview. Sarawak officials view Gillian's latest triumph as the result of long years of discipline, determination and unwavering passion for the sport. She stands as proof that local athletes have the talent, spirit and resilience to make their mark on the global stage. bowling Gillian Lim Siew Giok Rookie of the Year

Alcaraz battles as Shelton, Zverev race into Cincinnati third round
Alcaraz battles as Shelton, Zverev race into Cincinnati third round

New Straits Times

time12 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Alcaraz battles as Shelton, Zverev race into Cincinnati third round

CINCINNATI: Carlos Alcaraz fought through a second-set slump to post a "rollercoaster" 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match Sunday at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. "It was just a rollercoaster," said the second seed, who was winning his 12th straight match at the Masters 1000 level after taking the titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. "Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones. I am happy to get the win at the end. I know that I have chances to do better." Alcaraz committed 44 unforced errors and said conditions in Cincinnati, where he was runner-up in 2023, were always tricky. "The ball flies a lot, goes super fast," he said. "You have to be ready to be in a good position for each shot and that is really difficult to do." Third seed Alexander Zverev found things more straightforward, winning 6-3, 6-3 against US wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in the night session. Zverev needed just 66 minutes to get past Basavareddy, a 20-year-old ranked 109th in the world. The German put 41 of his 50 first serves in play and didn't face a break point. Basavareddy saved one match point with a blistering service return but Zverev secured the win with his 12th ace. American Ben Shelton, coming off his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, eased through 6-3, 3-1 when Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired with a knee injury. Shelton's early night was a boon after a draining Toronto tournament which only ended on Thursday night. "It's not easy to play a couple of days after winning any title," Shelton said. "I feel for Camilo and it's obviously not the way that you want to go through. I hope that he has a quick recovery." Asked about the tape on his own right thigh, Shelton said he has "a few muscle things" going on. "The legs take a lot of force," he said. Sixth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, the Washington champion, lost to American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. But another Australian, Adam Walton, secured a first top-50 win of his career with a 6-7 (0/7), 6-4, 6-1 upset of former world number one and 2019 Cincy champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia. In the women's draw, French Open champion Coco Gauff battled through a tough first set to beat China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Gauff, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2023 and went on to claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open that year, had to grind her way through the first set. But the number two seed steadied in the second to run out the winner in 71 minutes. "It was a rough start," Gauff said. "But it was about just trusting myself and the work we've done in practice." Third seed Jessica Pegula, runner-up last year to Aryna Sabalenka, defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, finalist last season at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, also advanced, beating Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5). --AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store