Google News Carlos Alcaraz delivers classy words to rival after unfortunate end to US Open match
by DZEVAD MESIC
World No. 4 Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged that 37th-ranked Sebastian Baez was a really difficult opponent and added that he was sad to see the Argentine being forced to retire their match. Alcaraz, the third-seeded player in the US Open main draw, was up 7-5 7-5 2-0 when Baez was forced to retire due to a leg injury.
Alcaraz described Baez as "a great player" and praised his competitive spirit. “No one wants to see the end of a match like this,” Alcaraz said, via the ATP website. “I think both players don’t deserve the end like this, but I just say that Sebastian is a great player.
He fights until the last ball, so he decided the best thing”.
Alcaraz: It was all but an easy match
No breaks were seen until the 12th game of the first set, when Alcaraz broke Baez to win the opener. After winning the first set, Alcaraz claimed an early second break.
But Baez responded with two breaks and had a 4-3 lead and a chance to serve out for a 5-3 lead in the second set. Then, Alcaraz earned two breaks as he broke Baez in the 8th and 12th games to open a two-set lead. “It was really, really tough.
The second set, it was really tough for me to stay at the level, physically and mentally,” Alcaraz reflected. 12 months ago, Alcaraz made his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. Now, Alcaraz has grown into one of the best players in the world and is a legit title contender at the US Open.
“I remember last year was one of the best moments of my life and of my career,” said Alcaraz. “One year later being No. 4 in the world is something special for me. To come back here to Arthur Ashe, one of the biggest stadiums in the world, is unbelievable for me”. Alcaraz plays Federico Coria in the US Open second round.