Google News ATP Madrid: Carlos Alcaraz and Struff get the final, the Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Carlos Alcaraz won his tenth consecutive match, reached his fourth final in a Masters 1000 tournament at the Mutua Madrid Open and consolidated his record on clay in 2023 reaching 18. Just considering his very young age, the numbers achieved in the major circuit before turning 20 are even more surprising: 117 successes and 33 defeats.
The fate of Alcaraz now seems projected towards that dimension that belongs only to great champions. Borna Coric did everything to try and spoil the party (even the birthday!) of Murcia's talent, but as often happens against certain tennis players, despite the significant performance, you have to give up.
The Croatian held up hit by hit in the first endless four games of the first set, which lasted more than thirty minutes. The service saved both in the first break points of the match granted to the rival. The turning point manifested itself with a devastating impact on the 2-2, when Alcaraz pushed with courage and strength from the baseline and forced Coric into a series of complicated recoveries, the last of which barely reached the net.
The Spaniard didn't concede any other chances in response and brought the first set to his side. The backhand betrayed the Croatian in the third game of the second half of the game; game that allowed Alcaraz to take the lead and lead the match.
However, Coric immediately recovered the break relying on a providential forehand. Not even the time to project in the mind the images of a historic comeback that Alcaraz immediately re-established the hierarchies by nailing Coric again from the baseline.
The 6-4, 6-3 inflicted on the Croatian will allow Alcaraz to challenge for the title of the Mutua Madrid Open for the second year in a row. In the last act of the Madrid tournament he will have to deal with Jan-Lennard Struff.
By a strange twist of fate the two have already faced each other in the decisive round of the qualifying tournament and the Russian won in straight sets. Aslan Karatsev advanced to the semifinals as a qualifier. Struff from lucky loser.
The German beat his Russian rival, and will face Alcaraz in tomorrow's final.