Carlos Alcaraz Stages Epic Comeback to Reach Cincinnati Masters Final

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates a point against Hubert Hurkacz. (Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports)

Carlos Alcaraz had everything against him this Saturday against the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, but managed to cancel a match point in the second set and seal an epic comeback (2-6, 7-6(4) and 6-3) to qualify for the first time in his career to the final of the Cincinnati Masters 1,000. The Spaniard, who with this victory is already sure of maintaining the first position in the world ranking, will play the title this Sunday against the Serbian Novak Djokovic or the German Alexander Zverev.

He already got used to being against the wall Alcaraz in Cincinnati. He overcame his four rounds in three sets, but this Saturday he was only one point away from elimination against a Hurkacz who bordered on perfection and who only succumbed after an enormously intense battle of two hours and 18 minutes. In the long list of qualities of Alcaraz there is no lack of personality. He needed a lot to carry out the match against Hurkacz, who annulled ten break points before receiving the first ‘break’, in the third set, which opened the way for Alcaraz to the final.

The game could not have started worse for the Spaniard. Two unconverted break balls in the first game and ‘break’ to nil in the second. If in Toronto he only took advantage of three out of ten, in the first set Alcaraz finished with zero out of five. Hurkacz had a lot of merit, who was close to perfection in the 38 minutes of the first set. He took it with a resounding 6-2, with a break in the second and in the eighth game. He also prevented Alcaraz’s ‘break’ with a great service performance and a brilliant game with the right.

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Alcaraz tried to gain confidence and signed some spectacular points, one of them with a wonderful volley after a pass from the rival, but Hurkacz responded without hesitation. He entered forcefully with his punches and placed several on the line. The count of unconverted break balls reached eight in the second set. Because Hurkacz maintained an extraordinary level. With the serve and also with quality drop shots that left Alcaraz lying on the ground. The Murcian recognized his merits and shook his hand. It was frustrating for Alcaraz, who went as far as pretending to headbutt the court’s advertisements at 3-3, when he missed a pass.

Carlos Alcaraz from Spain. EFE/EPA/LYONS BRAND

He had everything against him. But she didn’t stop fighting. Even on the match point that Hurkacz had with 4-5. He annulled it with the serve and forced a new tiebreaker, after the two from Toronto. They were 1-4 down, but closed it with six consecutive points, culminating with a great forehand, to force the third set (7-4). He celebrated it by looking at Juan Carlos Ferrero, in a crazy track that repeatedly chanted his name during the second round.

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An hour and 41 minutes had passed and a new game began. Alcaraz returned to the locker room to freshen up and reset. If there is a limit to Hurkacz’s game, it is his emotionality, but Alcaraz needed to work hard to put him in an uncomfortable position. The Pole, who until then had played an outstanding match, began to falter. And after saving ten break balls, Alcaraz managed to convert the eleventh to go 3-1 up. He celebrated it in style while the center court chanted his name again.

The storm passed. He held his serve to fifteen, consolidated the break and ran away 4-1. He did not give Hurkacz any chance of a comeback again and sealed the victory with a 6-3 victory after a battle of two hours and 18 minutes. He is one game away from becoming the third Spanish champion in Cincinnati, after Carlos Moyá, in 2002, and Rafa Nadal, in 2013.

*Article by EFE/Andrea Montolivo

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2023-08-20 00:33:05
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