Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s second-ranked tennis player, advanced to the semifinals of the Argentina Open on Friday night by defeating Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-2. Alcaraz showed improvement compared to his debut, in a match played at the Guillermo Vilas court of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club before some 5,000 spectators.
The 19-year-old Murcian player had to adjust to different conditions compared to his debut on Wednesday, with a much lower temperature of 12 degrees.
Alcaraz’s opponent in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon will be his compatriot Bernabé Zapata Miralles (74th), who beat Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, fifth seed, with partials of 6-3, 6-7 (4/7) and 6-3.
The Peruvian Varillas, 101st in the world ranking, celebrated the greatest success of his career by defeating the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (20th), whom he defeated 6-4 and 6-4. Varillas, who had entered the Buenos Aires tournament from qualifying, will now face the British Cameron Norrie, second favorite and 12th in the ranking, who defeated Etcheverry (82nd) with partials of 5-7, 6-0, 6-3.
The semifinals of the Argentina Open will take place on Saturday, with Alcaraz facing Zapata Miralles, and Norrie taking on Varillas.