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World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is through to his tenth ATP final at 19 years and nine months! Carlos battled past Nicolas Jarry 6-7, 7-5, 6-0 in the Rio semi-final after two hours and 42 minutes, moving a win away from defending the title and 500 ATP points.
Alcaraz will face Cameron Norrie in the title clash, the same rival he defeated in Buenos Aires last week. If a teenager wins the title, he will match Novak Djokovic's 6980 ATP points, although he can not pass the Serb, who has better results at notable events.
Jarry threw everything he had in his arsenal at world no. 2 in the opening two sets, sending bombs from his serve and forehand and standing close to the finish line. However, he got broken in the second set's closing stages and faded from the court, allowing Carlos to deliver a bagel in the decider and seal the deal in style.
The Spaniard played better behind the second serve and saved four out of five break points.
Carlos Alcaraz worked hard in the opening two sets against Nicolas Jarry.
Alcaraz created six break opportunities and converted five to dominate the crucial points and remain on the title course.
Jarry made a reliable start, producing four commanding service games and delivering an early break. Carlos wasted a game point in game two and got broken after a forced error. The Chilean kept everything under control in his service games and forged a 5-2 advantage after another fine hold.
The Spaniard reduced the deficit to 5-3 with a drop shot winner and had one more opportunity to prolong the action. Jarry cracked under pressure and experienced a break at love while serving for the set after Alcaraz's backhand crosscourt winner.
Both players served well in the remaining three games to introduce a tie break. Nicolas grabbed two early mini-breaks for 3-0 and forced Carlos' mistake with a sharp return to move 5-1 up. Jarry fired a service winner in the ninth point to wrap up the breaker 7-2 and gain a massive boost.
The Spaniard had to work hard behind the initial shot at the start of the second set. Alcaraz denied four break points and never experienced more issues by the end of the duel. Jarry held after deuces a few times and locked the result at 5-5 with a service winner in game ten.
Carlos held at love in game 11 and delivered a break at love at 6-5 following the rival's loose forehand to prevail and introduce a decider. That forehand mistake sealed Jarry's fate in this match, fighting valiantly so far but not showing up in the decider.
Carlos lost a couple of points behind the initial shot and secured three breaks of serve to deliver a bagel and advance into the final in style.