Carlos Alcaraz lost to Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells semi-final after a massive battle. Two weeks later, the young Spaniard was among the favorites in Miami, playing well and dethroning Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-final. Carlos prevailed 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and two minutes, playing better in the crucial moments to remain on the title course.
Thus, Alcaraz became the fourth-youngest Masters 1000 finalist after Michael Chang, Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet. Carlos grabbed 16 out of 23 points behind the second serve and fended off all three break chances. Hubert fired 13 aces and saved three break points despite a struggle on the second serve.
The Spaniard hit 22 winners and 21 unforced errors and gained the advantage from the opponent’s 37 unforced mistakes, as Hubert missed equally from forehand and backhand. Carlos outplayed Hubert in the shortest range up to four strokes and had slightly better numbers in the more advanced rallies to emerge at the top.
Carlos Alcaraz dethroned Hubert Hurkacz in Miami.
The Pole kicked off the action with a service winner in the encounter’s first game, and the Spaniard repeated that with an ace in game two. Alcaraz locked the result at 2-2 with a service winner and stayed on the positive side with another fine hold two games later.
Hurkacz moved 4-3 up with a hold at love and created a break chance in the next one with a smash winner. The young gun fended it off with a perfect drop shot winner and fired a forehand down the line winner for 4-4. Carlos served to stay in the set at 4-5 and landed a service winner to prolong the action.
The Spaniard earned his first break chance in game 11, and the Pole denied it with a booming serve. Hubert erased the second break chance with a forehand winner and brought the game home after almost nine minutes. The set went into a tie break, and Hurkacz played a beautiful volley at the net to open a 4-2 gap.
Serving at 5-3, Hubert missed a routine forehand to lose the advantage. Carlos climbed back to 5-5 and landed another perfect drop shot for 6-5 and a set point. The Spaniard placed a return under the rival’s feat in the 12th point to rattle off four straight points and claim the opener in 62 minutes.
Hurkacz defended the third and last break point in the second set’s second game with a service winner and held after deuce for 2-2. Alcaraz served well and moved 4-3 in front to keep the pressure on the other side. Hubert followed that pace and closed the eighth game with an ace for 4-4.
Carlos held at love in game nine before facing issues at 5-5. Hurkacz claimed an incredible point for a break chance, and Alcaraz saved it with a strong attack. A teenager fended off another break point with a service winner and held to introduce a tie break.
Hubert netted a volley to fall 5-2 behind, and Carlos earned four match points with a drop shot winner. The Spaniard converted the first to start a massive celebration and reach his first Masters 1000 final at 18.
