Carlos Alcaraz reached his second Masters 1000 final at home in Madrid. The young gun had to work hard against world no. 1 Novak Djokovic, prevailing 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 after three hours and 35 minutes! Thus, the Spaniard became the first player with wins over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at a clay-court event!
Carlos won three points more than Novak and saved eight out of ten break chances to remain competitive. Djokovic fought well and defended five out of six break chances. The Serb got broken once, and it was still insufficient to carry him over the top.
The Spaniard was a more aggressive player, hitting 50 winners and 57 mistakes and prevailing in the decisive moments to set the title clash against Alexander Zverev. Carlos made a perfect start and broke Novak in the encounter’s opening game with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Alcaraz saved a break point in game two with an unreturned serve and held after Djokovic’s wayward forehand. Novak raised his level behind the initial shot in the rest of the set and delivered one good hold after another to keep the pressure on the other side.
Carlos saved a break point in game six with a forehand down the line winner to open a 4-2 gap. Novak kept fighting and broke back two games later after Carlos’ loose backhand for 4-4 in 35 minutes. The Spaniard held at deuce with a service winner in game ten for more drama before they introduced a tie break.
Djokovic was a better player and built a 5-1 lead after Alcaraz’s backhand error.
Carlos Alcaraz prevailed over Novak Djokovic after a thrilling battle.
Alcaraz climbed back to 5-6 before Djokovic closed the set in the 12th point after the rival’s backhand mistake for 7-6 in 62 minutes!
The home favorite cracked a forehand down the line winner in the second set’s third game for a hold at love and 2-1. Novak erased a break point at 2-3 after forcing the opponent’s error and made a vital hold to lock the result at 3-3.
Alcaraz faced problems behind the initial shot for the first time since the start of the set at 4-4. He fended off a break point with a service winner and closed the game with a forehand winner that gave him a boost. A teenager erased a break chance in game 11 with another crafty drop shot and brought it home with a booming serve.
A teenager earned three set points on the return in the next one. He seized the second with a running forehand down the line winner at the net to force a decider after two hours and seven minutes! Carlos painted a backhand down the line winner in the final set’s fourth game for a break point.
Djokovic saved it with an ace and forced Alcaraz’s error on the second. The Serb denied the third break point with a smash winner and closed the game with a service winner for 2-2. Carlos created two break points at 3-2, and Novak erased them to stay competitive.
Djokovic secured the game and locked the result at 3-3 for more drama. Carlos fended off a break chance in game seven with a service winner and cracked a forehand down the line winner for 4-3. Alcaraz fired two winners at 30-30 in game nine to bring it home and gain a massive boost from the crowd.
Djokovic served to stay in the match at 4-5 and faced a match point after the young gun’s forehand bullet. World no. 1 saved it with an ace and held with an unreturned serve after four deuces for 5-5. Both players served well in games 11 and 12 to introduce a deciding tie break.
Novak sprayed a forehand error in the second point to fall 2-0 behind and claimed the third after catching Carlos’ drop shot. Alcaraz moved 3-1 ahead with a backhand down the line bullet, and Djokovic pulled the mini-break back with a volley winner at the net in the fifth point.
The Spaniard pulled the trigger in the sixth point to open a 4-2 gap, and the Serb won the next one with a service winner to stay in touch. Carlos opened a 5-3 lead with a good serve, and Novak reduced the deficit with a deep return.
Djokovic sprayed a forehand mistake in the tenth point to face two match points. He saved the first with a service winner, and Carlos seized the second with a forehand down the line winner for an epic victory!
