Alcaraz, struggling victory to fully enter the fight for the title and number 1

After two o’clock in the morning New York. About four hours of play. A day for suffering, suffering, but also for happiness when all difficulties, which are many, are overcome. Carlos Alcaraz19 years old and world number 4, overcame the high obstacle planted by the Croatian Marin Cilic33 years old and number 17, at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Murcian faced the challenge with great intensity and commitment. No let down was allowed. He endured the pull knowing he had a tournament champion in front of him, in 2014. Yes, he was with him in Miami and, before traveling to the city of skyscrapers, to Cincinnati. But a Grand Slam is another story, there is more responsibility, the pressure grows when the stakes are high.

Alcaraz made a good note of him. Expired 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3 in 3h.53′. A game of high level and demand, very complicated because Cilic is one of the leaders of the opponent when he is on a winning streak. In addition to the US Open trophy, it presents a Davis cupfinals in Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

The tennis player from El Palmar found a solution to every problem, well advised from the stands John Charles Ferrero, taking advantage of the test of allowing ‘teaching’, the coach’s instructions. And he became the youngest professional player to string two consecutive quarter-finals, in multiple appearances, at this event. In 18 the Australians did it Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewallin 1952 and 1953, respectively.

The rival is also breaking records for early. The Italian Jannik Sinner, 21 years old, he is the youngest tennis player ever Novak Djokovic in 2008 managing to reach the quarterfinals of four Grand Slams. Executioner of Alcaraz at Wimbledon and Umag, he also lost well against the Belarusian Ilya Ivashka: 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6 and 6-3 in 3h.48′.

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There is an interesting accumulation of goals in Carlitos Alcaraz’s wish book in a tournament left without the reigning champion, Daniel Medvedevand the four-time champion Rafael Nadal. The Murcian is fully involved in the fight for the title and will also be number one if he lifts the trophy, although it might be worth reaching the final, without the Norwegian. Casper Ruud. He will make history as the earliest to top the ATP rankings.

With Alcaraz on a tennis court, spectacle is guaranteed, as well as emotion. And there are no impossible obstacles. In fits and starts, depending on the time of year, but the leader in games won this season, which is 48 (9 losses), has a great competitive gene.

He started the match at 0-2, responded with a 4-0 run, dominance against a Cilic denied on the first serve (scoring 16%, a ridiculous statistic) and complaining about the pair of errors on foot sanctioned by electronic arbitration . 6-4 in 50 minutes.

Balkan responded by improving his game. He started to put everything. In those streaks that have always characterized him, since he was overwhelmed. He took the second set 3-6. Irregular (14 aces, 13 double faults) but effective in his high-risk style.

The match hardened, the quality increased. Impossible points, Alcaraz house brand, and also tactical movement. Not slowing down, he took a few steps back almost touching the back of the court. It didn’t bother Cilic, enough that he served below, in what would be the decisive break game for 6-4. The Murcian responded to the spoon service by arriving and causing the rival’s subsequent error. He invited the public to celebrate. Challenging, warrior.

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The fourth set should have been his, but he didn’t refer to seven break points to gain his superiority. Cilic survived, so he took the fourth set (6-4) and opened the fifth with a ‘break’ in his favour.

“It’s hard to lose that fourth set and start losing serve,” Alcaraz acknowledged later. He never complained, nor did he ask for an excuse. On the contrary, he forced to sign a favorable 4-0 run, disarming the opponent, showing legs, heart and game. And approach: “To the right”, requested Ferrero in serving. A perfect climax. Agony, yes. Satisfactory?, too.