'Frightening' Carlos Alcaraz delivers first-set clinic against Stefanos Tsitsipas in French Open quarter-final

Updated 06/06/2023 at 20:28 GMT

Back-to-back drop shots, astonishing down-the-line winners - the first set between Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas in their French Open quarter-final was full of moments of skill, most from the racquet of the Spanish world No. 1. And it was perhaps no surprise when Alcaraz took it 6-2, as the Greek became increasingly unable to stem the flow of magic from his opponent.

'Oh, stop it! - Alcaraz digs out 'frightening' forehand winner to break Tsitsipas

A "frightening" Carlos Alcaraz delivered a first-set clinic against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the pair's French Open quarter-final.

Alcaraz took the opener 6-2, but it was the manner in which he did so that so stunned the Roland-Garros crowd during Tuesday's night match.

It seemed that most points involved gasps from fans inside Court Philippe-Chatrier at either the Spaniard's skill, or power - or both - as he served up a masterclass in court craft and execution.

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First, there was an astonishing down-the-line forehand winner that Alcaraz pulled off from way downtown, and that sealed a double break over Tsitsipas to go 5-2 up and on the verge of the set.

'Oh, stop it! - Alcaraz digs out 'frightening' forehand winner to break Tsitsipas

"Oh, stop it!" Simon Reed, on Eurosport commentary alongside Tim Henman, exclaimed.

"This is a brilliant start. Frightening."

Alcaraz then came out to serve for the opener, and pulled off two quite brilliant drop shots in back-to-back points to take him to 0-30, and soon after the set.