Revealed on: Aug 17, 2025 01:48 pm IST
Carlos Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev to succeed in his second Cincinnati Open ultimate, however 4 double faults left him frozen in shock.
Carlos Alcaraz reached his second ultimate on the Cincinnati Open on Saturday after defeating Alexander Zverev within the semifinal. It additionally marked the seventh consecutive time he reached an ATP Tour ultimate, rising his season match win complete to 53 in a yr that already included 5 titles.
The 6-4, 6-3 scoreline, nevertheless, belies the struggles Alcaraz confronted. The primary got here within the opening set when Zverev discovered the antidote to his cross-court recreation, leaving him trailing 2-3 earlier than a late surge helped him regain the lead. The second got here at the beginning of the second set, when Alcaraz dedicated 4 double faults within the second recreation—three of them consecutively—handing the German an early benefit.
The sight left Alcaraz frozen in shock as he walked to his bench through the change of play. His expression shortly went viral on social media.
Zverev, nevertheless, didn’t capitalize on the benefit as he started feeling unwell and took a medical timeout off courtroom after the third recreation of the second set.
Zverev, who has retired in solely two matches since 2014, returned to complete what was a patchy match from Alcaraz, who had double-faulted 4 instances within the second recreation of the second set however gained the final 12 factors with Zverev working on fumes.
“We began nicely with good rallies, a superb stage,” Alcaraz stated. “Unexpectedly he felt unhealthy, and I used to be considering extra about how he was feeling as an alternative of taking part in good tennis. It was powerful, and I simply want him all the perfect.”
Alcaraz will subsequent face rival Jannik Sinner, and the Spaniard admitted he’s eager to take his Wimbledon revenge in Monday’s unorthodox ultimate.
“We at all times deliver our greatest tennis. We elevate one another’s stage. I am able to take the problem,” Alcaraz stated. “I’ll attempt to alter my recreation higher and proper what I did flawed in our final match. I need to be prepared with my 100%. Mentally, I will be prepared — I am excited for Monday.”
