Not a week had passed since the last time Carlos Alcaraz faced Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals in Canada where the American beat the Spaniard. However, this time it was different because of the rain, which was present three times, extending the match to five hours, and because of the game of the Murcian who, at the end, was liked and began to recover the sensations he showed. at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The man from El Palmar did not want to fall against the same rival on the same surface and eight days apart. On this occasion, luck fell on the side of the Spaniard in another great match, raised and equal. He will have the opportunity to maintain the level displayed, during the rainy evening in Cincinnati, in the quarter-finals against the Australian Max Purcell (70th in the ranking) tonight, not before 9 p.m. (Movistar+).

The world number one is aware that the US Open is approaching, that he is defending 2,000 points and that he is already fighting with Djokovic for number one. And it was noticeable from the start because a different Carlitos was seen, different, like we hadn’t seen since the beginning of the American tour. Much more involved on the court and dominating with his right hand, his best shot and which had been his weak point these weeks until now. The track also helped, much faster than the Canadian. Even so, the American, who is one of the fittest and most dangerous players today, continued to do his thing, pushing his serve forward, moving quickly down the court and not not being swayed by the improved version of the Spaniard.

That’s why he always makes Alcaraz suffer, he annoys him like very little because he knows how to defend himself against his attacks and he also knows how to get him off the track. And so came the break for Paul, who was placed 5-2 in 30 minutes. The Murcian also struggled against the wind which produced strange bounces and neutralized the speed of his balls. When the Toronto Ghosts appeared, Carlitos latched onto the trail and brought out the character and mental toughness of a number one to tie it 5-5. From there he refined and rendered the dominant version of Spanish. Especially, in the decisive game where it was done with the first set.

In the second set, the mechanism of the first was repeated and Alcaraz lost his serve to recover the next game. From there, the forces balanced out, the Murcian continued with confidence but Paul held on, which increased the intensity even more. This produced breaks and counter-breaks constant between one and the other until reaching 4-4. “Positive, he thinks he’s going out,” Ferrero assured him. And all the Spaniard hears is run, who despite losing serve kept them from going into the third set, defended a set piece against and made the break based on drop shots and drop shot winners.

Leaving this match was a morale blow for the Spaniard and discouraged Paul. It all seemed to be over and Alcaraz had three match points but he couldn’t hit the mark and after a fifteen minute game the second set also went to hell.i.e. pause. While lamenting the triple loss, the American came back on, won the tiebreaker 7-0 and the match went to the final third set.

Alcaraz made a clean sweep, which could not afford to leave the match where the feelings were positive. “It’s time to get tough,” Ferrero warned him again. And once again the man from El Palmar got to work, which did not stop and decisively broke Paul’s service. At the number one’s best moment as he went further and was close to victory, the rain appeared. They had been in the game for three hours and the downpour forced them into the locker room when it mattered most.

Groundhog Day in Cincinnati

An hour after the last point and with 4-3 in favor of the Murcians, the duel was going to resume, but another cloud unloaded and the match did not even resume. Alcaraz laughed for not crying because he saw how he couldn’t close the match because of the rain and for not taking advantage of the three match points. It seemed like the third time was the charm and both players returned. The game resumed, putting Alcaraz 5-3, to one of the quarter-finals, but again the story never ended. More rain and the two young men burst out laughing as they took refuge in the gym again in the face of such a surreal situation. The scene was so unreal that even Carlitos took the opportunity to close his eyes and take a mini nap for a few seconds.

The sky cleared, the lights came on and the stands filled up for the fourth time. Now yes, it was playing again and Alcaraz, tired of waiting and waiting, finished the game before Paul started to burn again. Three hours and fifteen minutes after the first match point, and after three stoppages due to rain, the number one takes revenge on the American (7-6 (4), 6-7 (0), 6-3) and accepts the quarter-finals after five and a half hours of play.

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