miraculous resurrection of Carlos Alcaraz. From nothing to everything in two days. From an apathetic tennis player, tired physically and mentally, to an energetic and excited athlete, who spread talent that remained caked on Monday, when he lost in Casper Ruud by 6-1 and 7-5.
On Tuesday he didn’t even train. He tried but felt bad about his sporting debut. I sprinted. Even this, with moderate displacement, is not enough to cause a lack of air. Difficulty breathing, chest tightness. Ill for a few days, before arriving in Turin.
“A bad time to be sick,” he lamented. Carlos Alcaraz. From the negativity of Monday and Tuesday to the accelerated recharge of energy and ambition on Wednesday. He was on the ropes, he ventured to say goodbye to the possibility of the semifinals of the ATP Finals that on the second day of John Newcombe Groupthe cold offered some respite, it opened up a space into which an improved tennis player slipped, with a broken voice but determined to accept the situation and find solutions on the fly. In them the sensations improved, his head and body became active. The strength of the mind, the ability of the chosen ones when they seek escape.
And he’s still in contention to repeat the semifinals at the ATP Finals. Not only did he achieve victory over the Russians Andrey Rublevbut with the necessary force in case we have to do triple ties on the last day.
Alcaraz, 21 years old and world No. 3, beat Rublev, 27 years old and No. 8, through 6-3 and 7-6 (8) in 1h.36′repeating what happened twelve months ago (7-5 and 6-2 in 2023). He minimized the opening KO, balanced the number of sets won and lost (2-2), which was the first element of the three-way tiebreaker. Thanks to the fact that he raised 5-6 and 7-8 in the tiebreak. He saved two set points that could prove crucial on Friday. He couldn’t finish 7-6, he did 9-8. And he celebrated it in a big way. For him, a deed. So is liberation.
He recovered a bit in percentage games (19-22). And most of all, he himself. He played like he didn’t have a cold.
For a change of scenery, she appeared on the runway with a striking fuchsia nose strip. He has already worn it on several occasions in Turin, albeit in training. He bet her on the competition. He used all the resources at his disposal to be competitive.
Others Alcaraz, who immediately taught Rublev that he is ready to play as he knows how. He applied a lot to the serve, the best ally on a hard, indoor court, which gives quick points and also helps to limit damage. 10 aces, no break balls against.
Too demanding for a Rublev which added to its sixth straight loss at the ATP Finals, reaching the final stage of the saturated course.
The Russian saved himself in the fifth game by coming back from 15-40 on the first serve, but he got mixed up in the seventh, and dropped his serve. He had doubts and boosted Alcaraz with that award, leading to a 5-0 run for the Spaniard.
Rublev recovered in the second set. This is a Masters, the best of the course is there (except by the own decision of Novak Djokovic), and there is a lot of quality. But Alcaraz remained solid until his opponent broke in the tiebreak.
Suspenseful in the tiebreak due to a double fault that caused them to lose a 5-3 lead, they found themselves at 5-6 which they settled with a body serve and winning forehand. A blunder on a volley put him up against a second set point. A deep right down the line, which miraculously went in, saved him. And then he sealed it with a wonderful remainder. Victory, $396,500 more and 200 ranking points.
Alcaraz continued to push for the semifinals, Rublev could only be saved by a difficult carom. He is mathematically out if Ruud beats Zverev in the night session. On Friday, to be official anyway, clashes Ruud-Rublev and Zverev-Alcaraz.
If Ruud defeats Zverev, the Norwegian will enter the semifinals and leave second place in a head-to-head showdown between Alcaraz and Zverev. The German, even if he wins tonight, will not be classified mathematically. He can close her but he has to deal with the result of his clash with Carlos.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
