Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns a ball to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) - Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will face No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Swiss Indoors semifinals after both advanced in straight sets Friday.
Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open last month, clinched a 6-3, 6-4 win against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta with a service winner.
'œIt is difficult to play against a friend like Pablo,'ť the 19-year-old Alcaraz said in a post-match interview on court. 'œEvery day we go and have dinner, lunch together.'ť
Auger-Aliassime hit 31 winners and made just four unforced errors in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Alexander Bublik.
The 22-year-old Canadian is seeking a third straight title - after wins in Florence, Italy and Antwerp, Belgium this month - and has not faced a break point on his serve in three matches at Basel.
Auger-Aliassime landed in Alcaraz's half of the draw as the third-seeded player in Basel. Second-seeded Casper Ruud lost in the first round to three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who lost his quarterfinal 7-5, 7-6 (5) to sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut.
A second 19-year-old, Holger Rune, took his place in the semifinals by beating unseeded Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (0), 6-2. The 25th-ranked Rune is aiming for back-to-back titles after winning last weekend in Stockholm.
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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his quarterfinal match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime returns a ball to Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka gestures to the audience after losing his quarter final match against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut cheers after winning his quarterfinal match against Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Denmark's Holger Rune returns a ball to France's Arthur Rinderknech during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves a ball to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns a ball to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta during their quarterfinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime reacts during his quarterfinal match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
The Associated Press