WATCH: ‘A frantic finish’, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz deliver a masterclass to close out the set, fans left in awe
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Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz, a teenager, beat Rafael Nadal 6-2 1-6 6-3 in a Spanish generational fight at the Madrid Open on Friday, scoring his first win against his idol and setting up a semi-final match with world number one Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz overcame an ankle injury to create a statement victory at the Manolo Santana Stadium, becoming the first Spaniard to defeat Nadal since Fernando Verdasco at the 2016 Australian Open.
He faced Novak Djokovic in the semifinals shortly after his miraculous victory. Carlos Alcaraz made a mind-boggling performance in his battle against the Serb. It was a pleasure for any tennis fan’s eyes, from dropping the first set to stealing the second set from the Serb. There was one rally between the two sensations, though, that swept spectators away and left them speechless.
Carlos Alcaraz delivers a mesmerising drop shot
After both players had warmed up on the court, the Serb began the match with his serve. With a 40-30 lead in the first game, Alcaraz broke Djokovic’s first service game to take the set. He then won his service game, giving him a two-point lead over Novak Djokovic. The World No. 1 then opened his account by winning his second service game with only a single point conceded, and he ultimately got his maiden break when he won the eighth game against Alcaraz to equalise the score.
Shortly afterwards, Alcaraz won his service game to take the first set into a tie-breaker. This is when the rally between the two happened which was pretty mesmerising. The rally lasted over 15 shots and it was the young Spaniard who produced a wonderful drop shot to seal the final deal. However, it was Djokovic who clinched the tie-breaker to defeat Alcaraz in the first set.
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)