Carlos Alcaraz storms into Argentina Open final

Carlos Alcaraz has spent the last four weeks recovering from a pair of injuries that cancelled what would have been his ATP Finals debut (last November an abdominal tear) and then ruled him out of the Australian Open (this January, a hamstring injury). It surely was a rough time for the teenager, who lives and breathes the sport and lusts after the competition like few others on the circuit.

But the wait is over now and the 19-year-old is back doing what he loves to do: putting on shows for packed stadiums and pushing for big titles.

Alcaraz took another step in that direction on Saturday as he blitzed Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2 at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday night to set a final on Sunday with Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

“It’s a really special moment for me,” Alcaraz said on court after his victory. “I’ve been struggling for these four months, I was a little bit down after the injuries, so I had to recover in these four months the confidence and the rhythm. 

“Coming back for my first tournament of 2023 and making the final is so special for me. 

Alcaraz – Norrie : 3-1 so far

Alcaraz owns a 3-1 head-to-head edge over Norrie but he did fall to the British No 1 when they last met, in the quarter-finals at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati last year.

“Well, I played four times against him and he’s a really tough player,” Alcaraz said. “I know that I have to give everything I have in the final. I’m gonna say it’s gonna be a really tough fight, but at the same time a beautiful one.” 

Carlos Alcaraz beat Serb Laslo Djere (6-2, 4-6, 6-2) and Serb qualifier Dusan Lajovic (6-4, 6-2) ahead of his victory.

In the previous rounds of the Buenos Aires Open, Zapata Miralles, ranked No 74, defeated Pedro Martinez (6-1, 3-6, 6-4), Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, the No 4 seed (6-1, 6-3) and Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, the No 5 seed (6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3).

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