Alcaraz suffers, has fun, and advances to the semifinals in Vienna

Carlos Alcaraz has found his rhythm. The Spaniard arrived at the ATP Vienna with the aim of getting the necessary match fitness for the final month of competition with the Masters 1000 in Paris, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup, and it seems he is ready after defeating a tough opponent like Tommy Paul, who fought hard but faltered at key moments (6-4, 7-6(2)). So the Spaniard advances to the semifinals of the tournament where he will face a Daniil Medvedev who will demand his best performance.

After two rollercoaster matches against Karen Khachanov (6-4, 7-6(5)) and Nikoloz Basilashvili (6-1, 7-6(11)), Alcaraz was looking to secure a spot in the semifinals in Vienna against a Paul whom he seems to have measured well (he had won the previous six encounters), however, the flat and aggressive style of the American always makes him very dangerous.

This was Alcaraz’s hard-fought victory against Paul in the quarterfinals of ATP Vienna 2026

In the first two matches in Austria, Alcaraz showed what he is capable of, with convincing stretches of tennis, as well as moments of disconnection filled with unforced errors. That significant tennis advantage over the rest allowed him to establish a lead that he later lost due to overconfidence. However, with Paul, it was the opposite.

The American, after the tough defeat in their last encounter in the round of 16 at the US Open, looks to unsettle the rest and succeeds from the very first game. He finds himself at 0-30 multiple times, helped by some mistakes from the player from El Palmar, even having several break points as the set progresses.

But when it comes down to it, when he finds himself near the edge, Alcaraz brings out his best weapons: a wicked forehand, an effective cross-court backhand, and a serve, the latter of which starts to respond for him for the first time in many weeks. This frustrates Paul, who is putting together a very serious match, but a slight slip at the moment when the Spaniard senses blood causes him to lose serve at 4-3, and that lead is not relinquished by the Murcian, who takes the first set in which he improved as the match progressed and where, without showing his 100%, he managed to go ahead (6-4).

Moving along in Vienna 🙌 @carlosalcaraz defeats Paul 6-4 7-6 and will lock horns with Medvedev in the semifinals! #ErsteBankOpen https://t.co/ZyI0ALoOWX

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 30, 2026

If in the first set Alcaraz was trailing, in the second set it's Paul’s turn. He doesn’t have to defend any break points because his serve allows him to get out of some tight spots before. Meanwhile, the world number three piles up drop shots, volleys, parallel forehands... Once again, he is enjoying himself.

Until the set reaches a crucial moment (3-3) and Alcaraz sets aside the enjoyment to switch to seriousness, because Paul is still a thorn in his side. Being incisive on the return and matching Carlos's intensity, he earns a break point that the Murcian manages to neutralize. The Spaniard overcomes the scare but knows that the American will make him sweat if he wants to close out the match in two sets. Neither gives in, and it will be the tiebreak that decides who takes this closely contested set.

But it is here that Alcaraz decides enough is enough. He doesn’t want to extend a match that could complicate with a very dangerous Paul. So he changes his mindset, concentrates, and there are no unforced errors anymore; in fact, the mistakes come from the American at the worst possible moment. He clenches his fist, unleashes his forehand, and brings down a rebellious Tommy Paul to reach the semifinals in Vienna. There awaits Daniil Medvedev, who will require another step up, but Carlos Alcaraz is perfectly prepared to deliver.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz sufre, se divierte, y se mete en las semifinales de Viena