Alcaraz conquers Lajovic and secure a spot into the last 4 at Rio Open

Carlos Alcaraz stunned Dusan Lajovic at Rio Open and remains undefeated this year.

Former world No. 1 continues to show that he doesn't need adjustment time to show his best game, and he recorded his seventh straight match win to reach the semifinal at the Rio Open. The Spaniard already lifted the crown last week at the Argentina Open in his first tournament of the year and shows his weapons to fight for a new trophy.

Serbian Dusan Lajovic take off the local Diego Schwartzman on first round and his compatriot Laslo Djere in the round of 16. The 32-year-old lost last week to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals in Argentina and now had to play the former US Open champion again.

In the first set, Lajovic found the first break in the 5th game, but the young star won 5 games in a row to take the first set 6-4. Alcaraz had to improve throughout the game because his rival this time had much more to say than in his last game.

The second set was much more contested, with both players saving several break points against them. A break for each player led to a set finale in which each had chances to take the lead. World No. 80 got the break at 5-5, but the 19-year-old break back to bring the set to the tie-break. In a tremendous display of concentration, Alcaraz made the perfect tie-break and won without conceding any points, to finish the match 6-4, 7-6(0).

In the semifinal, will face the winner between Chilean Nicolas Jarry and Argentinian Sebastian Baez.