Alcaraz into Cincinnati Masters semi-finals after winning third consecutive three-setter

It’s been another challenging week for top seed Carlos Alcaraz, but the Spaniard has reached the last four of the Cincinnati Masters by overpowering Australian qualifier Max Purcell 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Lindner Tennis Family Center on Friday evening.

This was the third consecutive three set match Alcaraz has played in Cincinnati, having defeated Australian qualifier Jordan Thompson (7-5, 4-6, 6-3) and American Tommy Paul, the No 14 seed (7-6 (6), 6-7, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Throughout the encounter, Purcell kept Alcaraz off his rhythm with a combination of big serving, and a dogged net rushing tactic. However, the approach wasn’t enough to win the Australian his biggest career win, with only 37/72 net points won by the world No 70.

After the match, Alcaraz shared how his feelings about the victory:

“It was very tough, it was tricky today, he served very very well, did a pretty good game at the net too,” the Spaniard said.

“It wasn’t easy, but I’m really, really happy to have my seventh Masters semi-final.”

Alcaraz will play Pole Hubert Hurkacz next, in a rematch of their round of 16 clash in Toronto, that saw the world No 1 win in a third set tiebreak, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3).

In the previous rounds of the Cincy Open, Purcell, ranked No 70, won against South African Lloyd Harris (6-4, 6-4), Norwegian Casper Ruud, the No 5 seed (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) and Swiss wildcard Stan Wawrinka (6-4, 6-2).

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Toronto Masters: Alcaraz comes back from a set down to beat Hurkacz

Tennis Majors

Cincinnati Masters, other last quarter-final results (Lindner Tennis Family Center, hard, USD 6.600.000, most recent results first):

• Taylor Fritz vs. Novak Djokovic
• Adrian Mannarino vs. Alexander Zverev
• Hubert Hurkacz beat Alexei Popyrin (LL): 6-1, 7-6 (8)