Carlos Alcaraz plays ‘one of the best matches this year’ to send Spain to the Davis Cup quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz shows signs of return to form after the US Open debacle as he wins two singles matches on Davis Cup duty.

Carlos Alcaraz plays ‘one of the best matches this year’ to send Spain to the Davis Cup quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz (via X/Carlos Alcaraz)

Carlos Alcaraz has guided Spain into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup Finals with a straight-sets win over Ugo Humbert. The 21-year-old needed just one hour and 21 minutes to secure a 6-3, 6-3 victory, hitting 21 winners compared to Humbert’s 14. This win followed Roberto Bautista Agut’s earlier win.

Alcaraz was mightily impressed by his level against Humbert, claiming it to be one of the best matches he has played this season. The Spaniard is seeking the first Davis Cup title of his career and a seventh overall for Spain.

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I was pleased with the level I played from the beginning til the last ball. I was really focused. It was a high level of tennis. I was really really intense. Probably one of the best matches I’ve played this year. Seeing my last month, I need these kind of matches. I’m really really happy with my performance today.
Carlos Alcaraz said after his Davis Cup match win

Earlier, Bautista Agut had to come from behind to edge past Arthur Fils. The veteran beat him 2-6 7-5 6-3 and converted 40% of his break points, bettering the Frenchman’s 27%. Alcaraz’s next task is the Laver Cup, where he will be making his debut for Team Europe. The four-time Grand Slam champion was set to team up with compatriot Rafael Nadal in Berlin before the left-hander withdrew from the event due to fitness concerns.

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Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz: The battle of the year-end world No.1

Jannik Sinner is the favorite to end the 2024 season as the year-end No. 1, but there are some key factors to consider for those still in the race. Sinner has been ranked No. 1 for 14 weeks, making history as the first Italian to reach the top spot in June. His strong performance, including a US Open victory, has secured his lead in the ATP Rankings.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Images via X)

Alexander Zverev is the closest to Sinner but trails by a large margin of 4,105 points. Carlos Alcaraz is 385 points further behind Zverev, while Novak Djokovic is an additional 1,130 points behind Alcaraz. Daniil Medvedev is only 85 points away from Djokovic. However, with the Serbian set to lose 2,300 points from his Paris Masters and ATP Finals titles, he is unlikely to stay in the race.

Sinner will drop 2,180 points soon as he is the defending champion of the China Open and Vienna Open, both worth 500 points each. He also stands to lose 1,000 points from his runner-up finish at last year’s ATP Finals, plus 90 points from his performances in Shanghai and Paris.

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Alcaraz is defending only 680 points from his results last year, including a semifinal in Beijing and a fourth-round loss in Shanghai. To overtake Sinner, he would need to win nearly every tournament left, including the Shanghai and Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. But even then, the current World No.1 would have to exit early in most events for the Spaniard to catch up.