Both promised war and gave it. They both said they were going to run and they did. Two physical wonders, young and strong, who fought every point producing a great show in their first official meeting. Both delivered in a physical and tactical fight in which the wind was once again the protagonist and which produced alternatives for two hours and ten minutes, but in which Carlos Alcaraz ended up being superior to Alejandro Davidovich (7-6(5) and 6 -4) and raised his champion’s fist. Today, around 4:00 p.m. (Teledeporte and Movistar Deportes), he will face Daniel Evans (2-6, 7-5 and 6-3 against Francisco Cerúndolo).
The Murcian knows how to suffer, who without being as dominant and aggressive as he is used to, is capable of carrying out games that are difficult for him. When he is on the edge of the abyss he gets the best tennis out of him and shows that without playing as well he is just as effective. “In those moments you don’t have to be afraid, you have to go for it and play without pressure,” said the man from El Palmar at the foot of the court, where he also influenced the circumstances of the match. “Today [por este viernes] It hasn’t been easy either due to the gusts of wind, but we’ve both adapted very well. He has a great repertoire and he gets you any impossible point. I hope the people have enjoyed it”, added Alcaraz after another match full of difficulties.
Carlitos started strong, who did not want ups and downs like the day before against Bautista. He made a break in the first game of the match firmly and safely against a Davidovich who came out cold. However, the man from Malaga, who generates a lot with little, wanted to show that he already knows how to control his inner fire. He did not wrinkle and recovered the break after a clean hit at the bottom of the track. Both aggressive, they tried to take the initiative of the point and began a dance of drop shots. Both went up and down, ran wild from one side to the other and this titanic fight was appreciated by the stands, another full day at the RCTB.
But Alcaraz does not like that they get on his beards and he responded with another break. Davidovich, brave and intense, had not said his last word and the first set was going to the tiebreaker, which was a continuation of the war waged throughout that set. Whoever hits last hits better and the defending champion’s experience prevailed.
With the overalls
They didn’t take a breather in the second round of the fight, because Davidovich came out with long nails. He wanted to recover lost ground, but missed six balls of break and that made him doubt, while Alcaraz smelled blood and broke the serve. However, the man from Málaga did not throw in the towel and in a repetition of the first set they reached 3-3. The game was full of exchanges and spectacular drop shots like the one Davidovich got: he dribbled and returned to his field, to the laughter of Alcaraz. An attempt at peace in a war that did not end because the tension was present, but which both enjoyed.
When everything seemed to indicate that the fight was going to continue, Alcaraz asserted his pedigree and took advantage of the right moment, as throughout the whole week, to close the game to the rest: 6-4 and qualified for the penultimate round of the Catalan tournament. .
“Remove these types of parties [la ronda previa rindió a Roberto Bautista] It helps me gain confidence and rhythm for what is coming. Solving the problems that appear make me a better player, and facing the next tournaments that come is something positive”, valued the winner; “Today I have been a little finer with blows than yesterday, but I also had to put on my overalls,” he added, before pointing out that he enjoys moments of maximum pressure: “What I do is dare to go for the point , I’m not afraid. In those moments I want the ball to reach me and play that point and enjoy it. I think that’s the difference between the best in the world and the rest. Others don’t want to play that point and wait for the rival’s decision”.
Jannik Sinner, who was unable to compete this Friday due to injury against his compatriot Lorenzo Musseti, is not on the poster for the semifinals. In this way, the options of a final between the two aspirants to dominate the circuit and the one that was dreamed of in Pedralbes vanished. However, Tsitsipas continues on the scene, who defeated De Miñaur (6-4 and 6-2) with solvency and hopes to achieve a title that he caresses (finalist in 2018 and 2021), but that resists him.
On the other hand, Novak Djokovic fell in the quarterfinals of the Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina) tournament against Dusan Lajovic (6-4 and 7-6(6) and remains in doubt, since today he competes with discomfort in the Elbow Next week he will disembark at the Caja Mágica in Madrid.
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