by Rebecca Bryan
Indian Wells - Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz toppled defending Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie to reach his first ATP Masters semi-final on Thursday and a dream matchup with idol Rafael Nadal.
The 18-year-old roared back in both sets to beat Norrie 6-4, 6-3 and become the second-youngest Indian Wells ATP semi-finalist ever, behind a 17-year-old Andre Agassi in 1988.
"I have no words to describe my feelings right now," said Alcaraz, who fired 31 winners to come out on top in a tense duel that featured five breaks of serve in each set.
Alcaraz was down a break twice in the opening set, but won the last three games and pocketed the set on his third break point.
18yo Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest Indian Wells semifinalist since Andre Agassi in 1988, beating the defending champion Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last 4 against... Rafael Nadal!
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 18, 2022
His first of many ATP M1000 semifinals.
The was an *incredible* performance. My God. pic.twitter.com/OAFb9Zcd5y
Down an early break in the second, he broke Britain's Norrie three times before serving out the match with a love game to book the showdown with fellow Spaniard Nadal.
"It's tough to play against Rafa, but at the same time I will enjoy the moment, I will enjoy the match. It's not every day you play against your idol," he said.
"I'll be happy even if I lose that match but I'm focused right now to play my best against Rafa and be able to take my chances."
Alcaraz has faced Nadal before, falling 6-1, 6-2, in Madrid last year.
He believes he can make more of a match of it with the record-setting 21-time Grand Slam champion this time, even though Nadal is on a 19-0 run to start 2022.
"I remember that I played really, really nervous," said Alcaraz, who won the Rio de Janeiro title in February.
"I think this time I trained with him a couple of times, I know more how to play against him.
"I think now it's going to be a little bit different this match. Obviously he can destroy me again. I don't know what is going to happen."
Nadal, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios to reach the semi-finals, said he was thrilled to see a rising Spanish star.
"I think he's unstoppable in terms of his career," Nadal said. "He has all the ingredients. He has all the passion. He's humble enough to work hard. He reminds me a lot of things when I was a 17- or 18-year-old kid.
"So I like him. I wish him all the very best. Possibly not (day) after tomorrow when he plays against me, but in general."
AFP