Paris Olympics 2024: Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger-Aliassime preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Carlos Alcaraz vs (13) Felix Auger-Aliassime
Date: August 2, 2024
Tournament: Paris Olympics 2024
Round: Semifinal
Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France
Category: Olympics
Surface: Clay
Live Telecast: USA - NBC, Peacock | UK - Eurosport, Discovery+, BBC iPlayer | Canada - CBC Gem, Radio Canada, Tou.tv | India - JioCinema, Sports18
Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger-Aliassime preview
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will take on Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Alcaraz's quest for an Olympic gold started with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Hady Habib of Lebanon. He then beat Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 7-6 (3), and followed it up with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Roman Safiullin. The 21-year-old was up against USA's Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz was in hot waters right off the bat but fended off two break points to begin the match with a hold of serve. His tenacity set the tone for the rest of the match. He secured a break of serve in the sixth game to go 4-2 up, and it essentially sealed the first set in his favor.
Paul issued a stern response as he raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set. However, he got cold feet when it came to serving out the set, and Alcaraz was happy to oblige with some inspired shotmaking to level the score. The Spaniard managed to force a tie-break and saved a set point in it for a 6-3, 7-6 (7) win.
Auger-Aliassime secured easy wins over USA's Marcos Giron and Germany's Maximilian Marterer in the first two rounds. He beat World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (5) to set up a quarterfinal showdown against Norway's Casper Ruud, a two-time runner-up at the French Open.
Auger-Aliassime snagged the only break of serve in the first set to claim it. Ruud rallied from a break down in the second set to force a tie-break and saved a match point in it to take the match into a decider. The Canadian nipped his comeback in the bud as he came out on top in the third set to score a 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3 win.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger-Aliassime head-to-head
The two have split their previous six meetings evenly to tie the head-to-head at 3-3. Alcaraz won their most recent encounter at this year's French Open in straight sets.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger-Aliassime odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger-Aliassime prediction
Both players are in great form this week and are set to lose a set. Alcaraz in his own words felt tired against Paul but playing for his country gave him that extra burst of energy and motivation to get the job done. Auger-Aliassime overcame a second-set stumble to oust Ruud.
Alcaraz lost his first three matches against Auger-Aliassime and has since turned the rivalry on its head. The Spaniard has won their last three encounters, including their most recent one en route to the French Open title two months ago.
However, Auger-Aliassime has already knocked out two top-10 players this week. He's at his most dangerous when he's playing for Canada. It won't be easy but Alcaraz is on an 11-match winning streak, and his status as a big-match player makes him the favorite to reach the final.
Pick: Carlos Alcaraz to win in three sets.