Alcaraz is immortal: in the Cincinnati final after being close to elimination twice!

He’s been playing on the wire all week, dancing on the cliff, fighting Cincinnati until he reaches the ‘semis’. He did it against all odds against Tommy Paul in the round of 16, with a victory that had dramatic overtones and plenty of epic. He had to return after losing the first set in the quarterfinals against Max Purcell, suffering. But in the semifinals, the game was passed. Carlos Alcaraz was more than a foot and a half out on two occasions. It seems to have been removed. His rival this Saturday, Hubert Hurkacz, had match point at 5-4 in the second set while playing the match of his life. But he saved her. And the Spaniard also seemed on the ropes in the subsequent ‘tie-break’, which could have been the final, with 1-4 against a player who was given no choice on his massive serve. But Carlos held on to the game and the title, like the good one in the movies, gets out of situations where he seems to be up to his neck in water, ending by raising his fist and saying a loud “come on!” heard around the world.

He came out of those situations like champions. He revealed to Paul that he was growing up and was motivated by a Rocky 4 video, and this Saturday Carlos was on the canvas like Ivan Drago was in front of him. But it was Rocky. Based on his head, magical rights and inhuman fighting capacity, he won 2-6, 7-6 (4) and 6-3 in 2 hours and 19 minutes of epic, dramatic battle, like a movie Oscar. Alcaraz dressed up as a superhero. He plays that role all week. No matter what his opponents attack him, he continues. There is no bullet in him. No super powers either. Superhuman. Alcaraz rebounded to win when all seemed lost. He did it again against a Hurkacz who had to go to the locker room in disbelief and unable to understand what he had gone through in his own flesh.

Secure number 1 for the US Open

That’s why Carlos Alcaraz reached the final of the Miami Masters 1,000, his 8th final in 2023. He won 7 of them (Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, ​​​​​​Madrid, Queen’s and Wimbledon) and lost in Rio de Janeiro. He will seek his 8th course title this Sunday against the winner of Novak Djokovic-Alexander Zverev. He will do this after achieving his first goal, which is to reach the final to ensure he reaches the US Open 2023 as number 1 in world tennis.

suffered again

The feeling before coming to this meeting was strange. The Murcian is not showing his best level, especially the US Open champion last year. But he doesn’t play badly either. In fact, the sensations are good, but that doesn’t quite translate into results. He won through adversity. Carlos explained after reaching the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters 1000: “I think I’m playing well. Obviously not at my best level. I can add to it, of course. But I feel the rivals, when they play with me, are better. What is clear is that you can get better every day”. And this time, it happened again. Hubert Hurkacz, world number 17 when he reached the semifinals and one of the best servers on the circuit, raised his personal bar, boosted by the chance to beat the world number 1 and enter the final.

Hurkacz seemed different and took the first set

A week ago, both their faces were seen in Toronto. There, Alcaraz traced the game. Hurkacz, if he had it, it was a great serve, one of the best on the circuit. But this Saturday, it was more. The first set started in a big way, with 3-0. His serves are ground-to-air missiles that are difficult to deflect for a Carlos Alcaraz who, despite having options in almost every game, cannot come true against the integrity of a Hurkacz who never fails.

In the past 52 weeks, the Pole has lost all 8 of his tie-breaks against Top-10 players despite his impressive serve. It shows how much his level drops at crucial moments. But this Saturday, against Alcaraz, his face was very different. He did not disappoint, he threw bombs instead of serves and not only that, he was more versatile: quick on his legs, had a good forehand, good return, even went up to the net and gave Carlos several volleys with his long arms. Alcaraz was right: another rival who grew up against the boy from ‘El Palmar’.

But the truth is again, Carlos is playing better. In the first set, after 3-0, he started to fuel himself and left some points full of magic. He raised his fist to celebrate his points. He just needs to take his time. He had been touched several times but Hurkacz saved every moment of doubt. Juan Carlos Ferrero, his coach, reiterated from the stands that this is the way to go, but the Pole took the first set without showing any cracks.

A dramatic second set with Carlos on the ropes

In the second set, with 1-1 and Hurkacz serving, Carlos forced up to 3 ‘break’ balls. “You must deduct”, Juan Carlos repeated. That’s the key. Cincinnati dropped one of the missiles his rival took on the serve. Carlos smiled when he got the chance. I know I just have to hang on. Little by little, your rival wears you down until you find the opportunity. From below, he could defeat him, but he had to subtract. His first break ball of the rest went into the net. Alcaraz is desperate. The second, the same result. And the third, long. He got to the point where he had to change the sign of the meeting. But again, Hurcakz held his serve.

At 2-2, it’s 30-30 Carlos, but the Pole nails it again. Carlos had to insist, stay calm. His moment had to come. But from there, Hurcakz not only sank, but he took steps forward. He no longer struggled with his service and looked like an octopus in his network uploads. An impenetrable wall. So, it was 4-5, with Alcaraz suffering a lot on his serve until the Pole had a match point. Alcaraz was out by a foot and a half. The Murcian seemed to be KO, but he came out of the hole at the moment of maximum pressure to force 5-5. The Spaniard forced the ‘tie-break’ without hesitation on serve and replayed it in sudden death. But before long, Alcaraz was back on the wire and feeling worse than the last few days.

From almost elimination, to the resurrection of Carlos

After 1h33′, Alcaraz played it all or nothing in the ‘tie-break’. The Pole started with a ‘mini break’ in favour, with 0-2. Alcaraz is on the ropes again. Carlos screamed with some rights down the line for 1-2. Hurkacz hit a great first serve to make it 1-3 and made it 1-4 with a forehand down the line from the back of the court that said it all about his inspiring day. Alcaraz is on the verge of elimination. But everything changed from that moment. It’s like there’s a ‘click’ in both of their heads. Those who have nothing to lose, grow up. The winner, sinks.

Hubert sent the ball in to make it 2-4. With a second serve and a good forehand, Alcaraz made it 3-4. This is an important moment. Hurkacz missed his first serve this time. This is Carlos’ chance. And the Pole sent his right to the hall. 4-4. And in the next, ‘mini break’ to make it 5-4 with a ‘passing shoot’ for more than one point. Carlos took the lead after coming close to elimination on several occasions. I was ‘on fire’. Another good deep right caught Hurkacz at 6-4. And he won the set with a great first serve. From 1-4 against, it became 7-4 in favor. Six points in a row is more than a set. What they mean is a change of trend in a game where Carlos has always gone against the grain.

final return

Alcaraz came out of the third set growing up. A new horizon opens before his eyes. He’s seen elimination up close and it won’t happen again. He won a turning point and his rival had to give up thinking. He finally did it with 2-1 on the scoreboard. Hurkacz is once again the Hubert everyone knows. That’s when Alcaraz had 3 ‘break’ balls. He also suffered to achieve this, but the third time was the charm. It was put with 3-1 on the scoreboard and served. I had to finish With everything he went through to get there, he would not fail. It didn’t happen. Alcaraz will enter the final. He fought and won. Very good.