Google News
World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz had to dig deep en route to the quarter-final of the ATP 500 Rio event. Carlos met Fabio Fognini in the second round, scoring a 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 triumph in two hours and 47 minutes for a place in the last eight.
Alcaraz served at 70% but could have produced better numbers. The youngster faced five break points and failed to defend any, getting broken four times in a row in the opener alone. On the other hand, he grabbed half of the return points and created 17 break chances.
Instead of sealing the deal earlier, Alcaraz squandered the advantage in the opening set and fell behind. He stormed over his opponent in the second set and built the crucial advantage in the early stages of the decider to emerge at the top.
The young gun made a reliable start, producing two fine holds and breaking the opponent in game two following Fognini's loose forehand.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Fabio Fognini in three sets in Rio.
The Italian survived more break points in the fourth game and broke back at 1-3 after the Spaniard's wayward forehand drive-volley.
Carlos grabbed another return game to open a 4-2 gap but squandered it after a loose service game a few minutes later. Fabio locked the result at 4-4 and broke for the third straight time in the next one to build the first advantage and serve for the opener.
Fognini played a loose forehand to lose serve and keep the rival alive. Alcaraz netted a routine volley in the 11th game and got broken for the fourth time in a row! Fabio served for the set for the second time at 6-5 and experienced the fourth break to introduce a tie break.
Carlos led 4-2 and 5-4, but it was not to be for him. Fognini claimed three straight points to wrap up the tie break 7-5 and gain a massive boost. Alcaraz produced four comfortable holds in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side.
He broke Fabio in games one and three to forge the advantage. Unlike in the opening set, he kept it and wrapped up the set with a hold at 30 in game eight for 6-2 and a decider. The Spaniard pushed hard and earned two breaks in the early stages to move 3-0 up and closer to the finish line.
Fabio pulled one break back in game four, and they both served well in the remaining games. The Spaniard served for the victory in game ten and held at 30 to emerge at the top and advance into the last eight.