ATP Barcelona: Carlos Alcaraz fends off two match points in the semifinals - the final follows tonight
Carlos Alcaraz reached the final at the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona. In the rescheduled semi-final against Alex de Minaur, however, he had to do everything.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 24, 2022, 02:46 pm
Alcaraz won after a total of 3 hours and 39 minutes (!) 6:7 (4), 7:6 (4) and 6:4 and is thus in the final of the home tournament for the first time.
The 18-year-old, who was listed in the top 10 for the first time on Monday, already had his back to the wall: De Minaur led 7: 6 (4), 6: 5 and 40:15 on his own serve. He served a fine slice serve to the outside, he could have put Alcaraz's short return anywhere, but played it right into Alcaraz's run. He ran on and managed a forehand pass ball at full speed into the backhand corner - a masterful coordination feat.
Alcaraz started round three with a break after de Minaur's service game, which went ten times over the debut, but the Australian equalized shortly afterwards to make it 3: 3. In the end, Alcaraz took his serve again and served to zero.
The semi-final of the two was interrupted yesterday morning in the first round and could only be resumed this morning.
So Alcaraz has to do it again today: in the final against Pablo Carreno Busta.
He also had to struggle with tough double shifts this week, in the continued semi-final (played in parallel) against Diego Schwartzman 6:3, 6:4 but only a reasonably short lead.
The final between Alcaraz and Carreno Busta is scheduled for 5.30 p.m.