Alcaraz let Paul get away with a brutal fight that he almost won

Carlos Alcaraz debuted in Canadian ATP Masters 1000in Montreal, with a painful loss in a match he almost won. He was unable to finish 4-1 in the second set where he had a ‘match’ ball in the subsequent ‘tiebreak’.with 7-6, and ended up falling victim to his own mistakes, an irregularity punished by an inspired Tommy Paul, who showed his qualities as an opponent as strong as his intellect.

Alcaraz, 19 years old and world number 4, surrendered his debut rivalry with Paul for 6-7 (4), 7-6 (7) and 6-3 in 3h.20′. It was his second defeat at the start of a tournament this season, adding to the defeat in Monte Carlo against Sebastian Korda.

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At 19, Alcaraz is part of a small group of serious contenders for a title that will cement his position in the fight for world number one in Cincinnati and at the US Open with his current holder, the Russian. Daniel Medvedev and Rafa Nadal especially. There is so much noise around him, which does not help him to survive the difficult day, to remain calm while the beloved victory slips away.

Carlos Alcaraz has not competed on a hard court since April 3, when he lifted the championship trophy of Miami Masters 1000 ATP. Its more natural surface, due to its own conditions and sensations, did not give a good return this time. She did not chain a seventh consecutive victory, the first after leaving the double trip on clay, with Wimbledon grass in between.

Alcaraz must continue to polish every aspect of her tennis. It is fatal to the positive dynamic, it is severely punished when it continues in a series of failures. Disconnect, anxiety can, and it gives too much. And a resilient and victorious Paul demanded to gnaw every point, every moment of this second round matchup.

The man from El Palmar led 3-0 and 4-1 in the second set, at his greatest inspiration after rowing an opening round he made himself thanks to a few magical minutes of the ‘tiebreak’ (7- 4).

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“Play calm, play calm”, insisted the coach John Charles Ferrero to Alcaraz, which is not equal to 4-1 up. He delivered four consecutive games (4-5), he bordered on crisis, the pits cost him a whole set. A sin of youth that must be tamed over time. But Paul’s apparent composure was broken when he served to win the second set. Alcaraz recovered (5-5). In fits and starts, more fails than usual left and right.

The ups and downs led to the new ‘tiebreak’. There is no ninth straight win for Alcaraz, who has not lost since the Roland Garros quarters against Alexander Zverev. He had a ‘match’ point with 7-6, but Paul answered with a serve of more than 220 km/h. Undoubtedly the message of his decision, which he ended by taking the Murcian in the third set.

Alcaraz forced to play pinion. He failed from the right, as well as from the left, but continued to shoot without anger. And Paul, himself, did not agree, having achieved incredible points that hurt the morale of the tennis player from El Palmar.

In 2-5, peering into the abyss, Carlitos followed the four ball ‘match’ in his own way, at a very high speed. Now getting into his ‘fabrics’. A new chance is given (3-5).

On service, Tommy Paul, who lifted the break ball with the twelfth first strong serve that was impossible to take down. It was one of his good days, on the fifth ball of the ‘match’ he closed with a volley. The American was huge, whose resistance undermined Alcaraz’s confidence. Another lesson in this study that will continue next week on Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000.

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