Carlos Alcaraz seals a huge prize after Cincinnati semi-final escape act
Carlos Alcaraz was pushed to the brink in a compelling Cincinnati Masters semi-final against Hubert Hurkacz and his latest battling victory ensured he will cling on to the world No 1 ranking heading into the US Open.
Hurkacz had a match point to beat Alcaraz towards the end of the second set, but he blinked when his big moment arrived and opened the door for an Alcaraz comeback.
The Spaniard needed all his battling qualities to grind out a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win against his dangerous Polish opponent, as he secured a place in his eighth final of the season.
With Hurkacz booming serve giving Alcaraz nightmares throughout the contest, he admitted he needed to stay strong on the mind as he came so close to a shock exit
“It was a mental battle and I had to stay there to wait for my chance,” said Alcaraz.
“I had a lot of break points, it was really tough. Obviously saving a match point is never easy but with my coach, we were talking about staying positive all the time and to stay there.
“We knew I was going to have my chances and I tried to take it. Every match against Hubi is really, really tough but I’m really, really happy that I was able to win.
“It’s been a really tough tournament, all matches have been three sets, but I’m really happy to win these kind of matches and stay strong mentally.
“These matches are really good for me. I grow up a lot thanks to these matches.”
Alcaraz will play Sunday’s final knowing his place at the top of the ATP rankings is assured, but there must be some concern about the levels of energy he is expending in Cincinnati ahead of the US Open.
Playing back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events is a challenge for any player and that is what Alcaraz has done after his long matches in Canada last week have been backed up by a series of draining battles in Cincinnati.
Alcaraz has spent a draining 10 hours, 38 minutes on court across his four matches in Cincinnati and while the 20-year-old should have the youthful exuberance to bounce back from the long matches in time for the US Open in New York that gets underway on August 28th, he may be feeling the effects of this week’s efforts when he plays the Cincinnati final on Sunday.
“He found a way,” was the summation from respected coach and Amazon Prime analyst Mark Petchey.
“Credit for Hubi Hurkacz. We need more people like him in our sport. He is an incredible player and person and has come out of it on the wrong side again.
“That is because he is so flexible and what he is doing at just 20 years of age is just extraordinary.
“It’s his composure, it’s his creativity, it is such charismatic tennis and he is going to make people care about this sport on an emotional level. You can’t ask for any more than that.”
Alcaraz’s success in hanging on to the world No 1 slot ensures he will head into the defence of his US Open title with huge expectations on his shoulders.
Yet this remarkable young sporting hero doesn’t appear to feel pressure as he smiles his way through battles that would be too much for most players of his age to handle.
There is no stopping Carlos Alcaraz… for now.
READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz brushes off concerns over scrappy, lengthy matches – ‘It doesn’t matter too much’
