He managed to overcome the match point that Hurkacz had with 4-5
He could become the third Spanish champion in Cincinnati, after Carlos Moyá, in 2002, and Rafa Nadal, 2013.
The Spanish had everything against him this Saturday Carlos Alcaraz against the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, but managed to cancel a match point in the second set and seal an epic comeback (2-6, 7-6(4) and 6-3) to qualify for the first time in his career to the final of the Cincinnati Masters 1,000.
The Spaniard, who with this victory He is already sure of maintaining the first position in the world rankingthe title will be played this Sunday against one between the Serbian Novak Djokovic and German Alexander Zverev.
He already got used to being against the wall Alcaraz in Cincinnati. He surpassed his four rounds in three sets, but this Saturday he was only one point away from elimination against a Hurkacz who bordered on perfection and who only succumbed after a battle of enormous intensity that lasted two hours and 18 minutes.
In the long list of qualities of Alcaraz there is no lack of personality. He needed a lot to carry out the game against Hurkacz, who He canceled ten break balls before receiving the first ‘break’in the third set, which opened the way for Alcaraz to the final.
The Spanish will take a perfect balance of four wins out of four in the Masters 1,000 finalswhich saw him lift the trophy in Miami and Madrid 2022, and in Indian Wells and Madrid 2022.
He increased his balance against Hurkacz to three out of threewho said goodbye without a prize after a match of the highest level.
traumatic start
The game could not have started worse for the Spaniard. Two unconverted break balls in the first game and ‘break’ to nil in the second. If in Toronto he only took advantage of three out of ten, in the first set Alcaraz finished with zero out of five.
It had a lot of merit Hurkacz, who was close to perfection in the 38 minutes of the first set. He took it with a resounding 6-2, with a break in the second and in the eighth game. He also prevented Alcaraz’s ‘break’ with a great service performance and a brilliant game with the right.
Alcaraz tried to gain confidence and signed some spectacular points, one of them with a wonderful volley after an opponent’s pass, but Hurkacz responded without hesitation. He entered forcefully with his punches and placed several on the line.
The count of unconverted break balls reached eight in the second set. Because Hurkacz maintained an extraordinary level. With the serve and also with quality drop shots that left Alcaraz lying on the ground. The Murcian recognized his merits and shook his hand.
It was frustrating for Alcaraz, who He even pretended to headbutt the ads on the track with 3-3, when he missed an intern.
Alcaraz, for everything
He had everything against him. But he did not stop fighting. Even in the match ball that Hurkacz had with 4-5. He annulled it with the serve and forced a new tiebreaker, after the two from Toronto. They were 1-4 down, but closed it with six consecutive points, culminating with a great forehand, to force the third set (7-4).
He celebrated it vigorously looking at Juan Carlos Ferrero, in a maddening track that repeatedly chanted his name during the second moto.
An hour and 41 minutes had passed and a new game began. Alcaraz returned to the locker room to freshen up and reset.
If there is a limit to Hurkacz’s game, it is his emotionality, but Alcaraz needed to work hard to put him in an uncomfortable position. The Pole, who until then had played an outstanding match, began to falter.
And after saving ten break balls, Alcaraz managed to convert the eleventh to move up 3-1. He celebrated it in style while the center court chanted his name again.
The storm passed. He held his serve to fifteen, consolidated the break and ran away 4-1. He did not give Hurkacz comeback options again and sealed the victory with a 6-3 after a battle of two hours and 18 minutes.
He is one game away from becoming the third Spanish champion of Cincinnatiafter Carlos Moyá, in 2002, and Rafa Nadal, 2013.