MUTUA MADRID OPEN

First it was his idol in a three-set match win, despite tumbling and hurting his ankle. Today it was another three-set win, which was a thriller. Rafael Nadal knew this kid was dangerous; he pushed him earlier this season at Indian Wells. I would say that match was the reason Nadal was injured in the final and lost the opportunity to grab another ATP Masters 1000 title and tie Novak Djokovic at thirty-seven. They are now 1:1 on Madrid clay. What a difference one year makes. Last year, Nadal easily dispatched of Alcaraz 6-1, 6-2. Different story this year as the younger Spaniard took revenge with the 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

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Djokovic Surprised By The Tenacity of Alcaraz

Up next was the reigning number one ranked player, Djokovic. This was their first meeting, surely there would be a letdown in the play from the teenager. Alcaraz broke immediately to take the lead but could not hold the lead and lost the set in a tiebreaker. How would the youngster respond after that collapse? Alcaraz shook it off and calmly staved off both break points against his serve to break Djokovic late in the second set to send it to a decider.

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Carlitos Alcaraz Proving He’s The Real Deal

We all expected Djokovic to step up and he did. He saved all six break points against his serve to force another tiebreaker. However, this time it was the youngster who tightened up his game to get the upset 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) victory.

Teenager To Contest Mutua Madrid Final Against Zverev

Alexander Zverev has a losing record [3:7] against Stefanos Tsitsipas; however, today the German stepped up big time to gain the 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory. After a mental stumble in the second set, Zverev regrouped nicely in the third. Tsitsipas lost his momentum to go down an early break and he never recovered.

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Alcaraz would have preferred to battle the Greek player since he leads their H2H 3:0. Instead, he will have to revise his game plan against the German, who leads their H2H 2:0. Needless to say, we are all curious how he will turn up in another big final. Will it be ATP Masters 1000 title number two for the young Spaniard?

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