New Delhi: Carlos Alcaraz will face Alex de Minaur in the ABN AMRO Open final in Rotterdam after beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the semi-finals.
The Spaniard had to save three break points to win the first set in an entertaining last four clash that stretched for two hours and 21 minutes.
The World No. 3 has already win 16 tour-level titles in hard courts, clay and grass and will be up against de Minaur who ended a dream run of qualifier Mattia Bellucci in a 6-1, 6-2 win.
‘Great level’
Alcaraz was beaten in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open by Novak Djokovic. But he was satisfied with the intensity of his game against Hurkacz.
“Great level, great match, that’s all I could say. In that moment he was a bit tired. I know his frustrations at the end of the match, so I couldn’t say so much about it,” he said.
“I’m just really happy. I think we both played at such a high level, for the people as well. It was a great match.”
Pole Hurkacz hit the ball cleanly off both wings to lead at 4-1, 0/40 in the fist set. Byt Alcaraz’s incredible defensive skills helped him turn the tide and win 12 of the first 13 points of the decider to go 3-0 up.
He completed his win after saving five of six break points he faced. “I was a bit in trouble, I guess,” admitted Alcaraz.
“I just felt every ball until the end. That’s all I was thinking about, and I knew that I was going to have my chances.
“His level at that time was unbelievable, really high, so I knew that it was about time. So I’m really happy to have been able to fight every ball and to save the break points that I had to [save] to not be 1-5 down. I’m just happy to be able to do it and in the end, it paid off.”
Carlos Alcaraz had to dig deep to beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 in an entertaining last four clash that stretched for two hours and 21 minutes. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
