Carlos Alcaraz, U.S. doubles tandem roll to victory

PARIS -- Spain's Carlos Alcaraz remained on course for gold, defeating American Tommy Paul 6-3, 7-6 (7) after saving a set point in the tiebreaker on Thursday at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz, a first-time Olympian, is among the final four who will be in the running for the Olympic men's title with defending Tokyo gold medalist Alexander Zverev of Germany eliminated in the quarterfinals by Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 7-5.

The second-seeded Alcaraz was showing his frustration in the second set when he trailed 5-2 at one point.

He snapped out of his slump, however, and is now two wins away from adding the Olympic gold to a spectacular year which has brought him the French Open and Wimbledon titles.

"I was trying to raise the adrenaline and the intensity and the truth is that it helps to know that you playing for Spain, we are playing and representing our flag," Alcaraz told reporters.

"That helps a little more to leave everything on the court, to continue fighting, to keep running and not give up."

Alcaraz hit the ice bath after beating Paul and will need a quick recovery for his semifinal against Canada's Felix Auger Aliassime.

"Singles, doubles, not a day of rest in between, but the Olympics are every four years and you have to accept that," the four-time Grand Slam champion said.

"You have to accept it, you have to fight and try to do everything perfect off the court."

Later on Thursday, Serbian top seed Novak Djokovic continued his bid for a long-awaited Olympic title by defeating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (3). Auger-Aliassime took down Norwegian clay-court specialist Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3.

The United States men's doubles pair of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek followed up their victory over Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal the previous evening to book their place in the final as they overcame Czech tandem Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek 6-2, 6-2.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media