Alcaraz suffered his worst torture at the hands of Dimitrov in Miami

hard day for Carlos Alcaraz at the Masters 1000 ATP in Miami, where he opened his record of titles in this category in 2022. This time he suffered his worst torture, at the hands of an inspired Grigor Dimitrov, which ended the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 champion’s winning streak.

Dimitrov, 32 years old and world No. 12, the Spaniard, 20 years old and No. 2, in a tennis recital. The best version of anyone called in the beginning ‘Baby Federer’ It angered Alcaraz, who was feeling strong on a nine-game winning streak.

There was a moment of rebellion on the part of the Murcian, but it was not enough for him to survive. Dimitrov won 6-2 and 6-4 in 1h.32′, qualified for the semifinals. This Friday, at 8:00 p.m., Daniil Medvedev-Jannik Sinner. Not before 00:00 hours, the Bulgarian will face Alexander Zverev.

If not Carlos Alcaraz, seeded first, leaving Miami full of four seeds, which would have been historic. The Spaniard failed, unexpectedly because he hit hard. He fell out with his executioner again last season in Shanghai. Second loss against an opponent he had beaten in his first three meetings.

“This ball doesn’t weigh, it doesn’t do anything,” Alcaraz complained, unable to get the ball to bite, spin, or rise upward. He felt the rivalry was direct, as Dimitrov wanted, recalling the former world No. 3, the ATP Finals champion. An eternal promise somewhat lost, irregular, of flaws, with enormous talent but no stability.

Freed from the sins of youth, matured by age and experience, without pressureDimitrov He spread pure tennis against an Alcaraz who held on until he saw that all the prizes went to the Bulgarian, who was more successful in the important points.

Suddenly, in the middle of a ‘great match’, it was 3-0 Dimitrov, who saved a break point to prevent Alcaraz from continuing, which he then chased. All agreed in favor of the Central European, who was enlightened. One of those days when everything will be fine. He enjoyed it, until the punishment of the increasingly tense Alcaraz.

The 6-2 scoreline revealed Dimitrov’s state of grace, hiding the fact that Alcaraz was on the back foot for several minutes. “It doesn’t matter if I complain or not, I can’t do this shit. I have to focus once and for all,” Alcaraz spoke to his team. There are also monologues, he is talkative because he appeared so overwhelmed.

Dimitrov added 24 of his 32 points to go up 4-1 in the second set. He put everything, always in a massive mode, with maximum aggressiveness, to the limit. Holding the magic wand, he dared anything, which made the Spaniard desperate.

In Alcaraz’s favor, even on the verge of a nervous breakdown, he was able to react and avoid the TKO for a few moments. It looked like he was about to come back with a break ball for 5-1 and Dimitrov’s serve. He rebelled against his bad fate, he let himself go. In his club he thought he was working a miracle: slightly 3-0, 4-4 on the scoreboard.

A few seasons ago, Dimitrov was skeptical. Veteran, without emergency, he endured the pull. So it decided the rest. He sentenced a prize that he had staked all his magic on.

Alcaraz, out of the tournament. Think about clay, if you start with it Monte Carlo or go straight to Gothic. He will have to take a deep breath, forget the fourth loss of the season: Alexander Zverev (Australian quarters), Nicholas Jarry (‘semis’ of Buenos Aires) and Tiago Monteiro, in Rio after retiring due to an ankle injury just to start.