Published: 09:45, August 20, 2023 | Updated: 09:52, August 20, 2023
Alcaraz survives Hurkacz to reach Cincinnati final
By Reuters

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on Aug 19, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. (PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz fended off a match point en route to a 2-6 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday to reach the Cincinnati Open final, where he could potentially meet Novak Djokovic in a rematch of last month's riveting Wimbledon final.

The Spanish world number one has lived dangerously since capturing his second Grand Slam title at the All-England Club, needing three sets in all his matches in Ohio, including his quarter-final win over qualifier Max Purcell.

A perfectly executed volley on his first match point delivered Alcaraz into his eighth final of the year, where he will face world number two Djokovic or Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final at the US Open tune-up event

Hurkacz, who narrowly lost to Alcaraz in the quarters of the Canadian Open, raced out to a 3-0 lead as Alcaraz mixed dazzling shotmaking with some head-scratching errors in the entertaining first set.

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Hurkacz captured the opener when he broke Alcaraz for a second time and had match point in the second set while returning serve and leading 5-4 but misfired on a forehand wide.

Alcaraz drew Hurkacz to the net with a drop shot and then fired a sensational cross-court winner to set up the tiebreak.

In the breaker Hurkacz once again started strong, grabbing a 4-1 lead before his 20-year-old opponent took his game to another level, pounding a forehand winner for a 5-4 lead and crushing a serve Hurkacz could not put in play to force a deciding set.

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Alcaraz took control for good when Hurkacz's forehand into the net handed Alcaraz his first break of the match at 3-1, with the Pole bouncing his racket off the court in frustration while a pumped-up Alcaraz roared with the crowd.

A perfectly executed volley on his first match point delivered Alcaraz into his eighth final of the year, where he will face world number two Djokovic or Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final at the US Open tune-up event.