Alcaraz takes rain-hit revenge over Paul

Carlos Alcaraz had to work patiently through three rain interruptions on Thursday to finally earn 7-6 (6), 6-7 (0), 6-3 revenge at the Cincinnati Masters over the player who upset him six days ago.

The world No. 1 took three and a quarter hours to account for American Tommy Paul, who sent the 20-year-old Spaniard packing last Friday in the quarters in Toronto.

The match was filled with twists and turns as Alcaraz fought back four times in the first two sets from a break down, But Paul squared the sets at one apiece by winning the last nine points of the set after saving three match points in the 12th game..

With his momentum building, the top seed and his opponent were sent off court by light rain midway through the third set, waited an hour and came back out only to play one game and depart again.

Alcaraz got thor time lucky as he returned to finish off the last few points to advance in the thriller with 40 winners and more than 60 unforced errors..

Alcaraz will on Friday face Australian qualifier Australian Max Purcell, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Stan Wawrinka.

“We were playing a close match when the rain came,” Alcaraz said.”All of the starting and stopping was not easy.

“I really wanted to win after what happened against him last week. I”m happy with my level and pleased to be in the quarter-finals. I feel my game is getting better and better.”

Alcaraz polished his record this season to 51-5.