Madrid Masters 1,000
The young player from Murcia also defeated the number one in the world, with a comeback included and in the final tiebreaker in a huge match for both. Alexander Zverev waits in the final
The day after defeating Rafa Nadal for the first time in the third confrontation between the student and the teacher, Carlos Alcaraz also overcame another high challenge by beating, at the first opportunity, the current number one in the world. Just turned 19, the Murcian tennis player became even bigger by defeating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open to take another step in his unstoppable progression, sprinkled with greatness, and this Sunday have the opportunity to win the second Masters 1,000 of his dazzling career, which promises to be glorious. The German Alexander Zverev, defending the crown, awaits him in the final.
With a comeback included and in the final tiebreaker, so that his historic victory against Djokovic would have even better flavor, Alcaraz signed, by 6-7 (5), 7-5 and 7-6 (5), a victory of enormous prestige against a true champion of 20 Grand Slam titles and 37 Masters 1,000, when Nadal’s heir has only won one of this second category, a month ago in Miami. The talent, faith, power of his shots, courage and indestructible mentality of Alcaraz outweighed the experience and powerful service of the world number one, who after his complicated and controversial start to the season was eager to win his fourth title in Madrid and he had to surrender to a rival called, sooner rather than later, to take over from the tennis legends.
In a huge match between Alcaraz and Djokovic that lasted three hours and 35 minutes, the Murcian again fulfilled the motto that his grandfather taught him of “head, heart and balls” for, despite his hasty mistakes as a result of his youth, take down another colossus. At the moment, Alcaraz has already defeated two of the members of the mythical ‘Big Three’ – only Roger Federer would be missing -, after two consecutive exhibitions. The one he offered against Djokovic was still of greater value than against Nadal, because while the Spaniard has just reappeared and is still far from his best game, the Serbian offered samples of his best tennis in his second semifinals of the year, which he reached with barely to wear yourself out, to meet up with a forward tennis player who has reasons to aspire to already conquer a Grand Slam. His physical power and his winning gene allow him to dream of everything he sets out to do.
A devastating right
In an epic duel, exciting to the decisive point in a ‘tie-break’ forced by Djokovic by saving a match point with a direct serve in the third set, the Serbian and Alcaraz experienced a clash dotted with tennis fluctuations but, above all, , emotional, in which the young player from El Palmar enjoyed taking the Balkan to the limit and drove him to despair with his incredible and daring drop shots. When another would have sank morally after falling in the tiebreaker of the first round, Alcaraz, with a devastating right hand and an impressive physical display, not only resisted the push of the number one, but also had the reaction of an athlete who is made of paste really special and as soon as you see him move and dominate on the track you can see that you have to sweat blood to beat him.
When the serve with which he always stayed in the game did not work for Djokovic, the Serb tried to move the Spaniard from one side of the court to the other. However, the legs that Alcaraz has not only reached very tight balls that seemed impossible, but the Murcian responded with brave drops that stunned the 2,500 spectators who packed the Caja Mágica and almost unhinged the Serb. The key moment, vital to decide the victory in such an even match, however, came when there was greater tension, with 4-4 in the third set, and Alcaraz confirmed the psychological strength of the chosen ones. Djokovic then went ahead 30-0 and, when the Balkan was on his way to the ‘break’, the Spaniard turned the game around to finally win it and put the 4-5 on the scoreboard.
Also Djokovic, how could it be otherwise, stopped Alcaraz when the Murcian was presented with enviable opportunities to score breaks of service. So it was the trade of Djokovic, 34, who prevailed, to allow such a fantastic meeting to drag on and had to be resolved, with agony, in a second ‘tie-break’ in which the Serb saved a second ball from match. However, the ticket to the final was already destined for Alcaraz, the youngest player to qualify for the title match in Madrid and, with no brake on his growth, on Monday he will be number six in the world.
#Alcaraz #bigger #Djokovic