The 21-year-old Spaniard let his guard down in the second set, when his Italian opponent fought back from trailing 1-4 to force a decider.

Alcaraz claimed an entertaining point in the fourth game of the second set, landing a volley winner and moving 3-1 in front. The four-time Major winner held at love for a 6-1, 4-1 advantage in 57 minutes. Nardi faced deuces on the return in game six, standing on the verge of exit door.

Alcaraz meets the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka for a place in the last four on Feb 20. Read more at straitstimes.com.