Five months later, Alcaraz lands in another final

In an interval of only five days, after 102 in the reserves and 161 since the last final he played, the one that led him to history and the throne in New York in September, the competitive instinct of Carlos Alcaraz (double 6-2 to Bernabé Zapata) has recovered his form and the Murcian is once again one step away from obtaining a new trophy.

It would be the seventh of his brief career in the elite, the first of this year in his first appearance.

It is already known: he is not a boy of half measures.

After the week in Buenos Aires, only the British Cameron Norrie (7-6 (5) and 7-4 against Juan Pablo Varillas) can stop the number two, who in just three games has already shown his fangs and will break into the final of this Sunday (8:00 p.m., Movistar) like lightning.

Beyond the set that Laslo Djere scratched him at the premiere and a couple of specific moments in which he lost a point of edge, Alcaraz rearms himself, gains tone and gives off very good feelings day after day.

From less to more, he corrected himself with authority before the Serbian and in the following two appointments – on Friday against the veteran Dusan Lajovic and this Saturday against Zapata – he refined his blows to gradually uncover that overwhelming and seductive version.

Today there is probably no faster tennis player or one who hits the ball harder than him, the 19-year-old (20 on May 5) who dwarfs the older ones and who does almost everything well;

As good is his forehand as his backhand, his serve as his hammer shots, and his maneuvering as his acceleration.

Hard to choose.

More information

Alcaraz raises the temperature in Buenos Aires

In the semifinal, resolved in 1h 15m, Zapata was giggling softly because he tried it in every way and could barely tickle him.

The Valencian, a worker who at 26 years old has managed to establish himself among the top 100 on the circuit – he is 74th, with 72nd place as the ceiling – and who is progressing in search of another stretch in the ranking, came across the very high displacement

the from Murcia, who returned the ball no matter how tilted it was.

Serious in the first set, much better without the need to increase speed and despite making several unforced errors as a result of risk, he enjoyed and played around in the second to round off a victory that places him in front of Norrie, with whom he has done good crumbs and whom he has already defeated three times in four duels.

“I am one of those who think that the finals are not played;

the finals are won ”, Alcaraz puts forward.

However, the last time they met –Cincinnati, last season– the left-handed man prevailed, an increasingly accomplished and better tennis player, installed at 27 on the twelfth rung of the list and who begins to appear frequently in the seasons. tournament finals.

It will be the thirteenth for him, champion two years ago in Indian Wells, once on sand (Lyon 2022).

A chef's kiss for @carlosalcaraz @ArgentinaOpen |

#ArgOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/LzhFtKDgUk

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 18, 2023

In any case, if someone starts as a favorite it is Alcaraz, present in his ninth ATP final, the seventh on clay.

Despite the fact that he achieved glory on the New York concrete, his layout underlines a thoroughbred competitor on clay.

He triumphed in Umag (2021), then in Rio, then Barcelona and later in Madrid;

He now aspires to do so in Buenos Aires, where he would become the seventh Spaniard to do so following the footsteps left by Carlos Moyá (2003 and 2006), Tommy Robredo (2009), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2010), Nicolás Almagro (2011), David Ferrer (2012, 2013 and 2014) and Rafael Nadal (2015).

"He's a very tough opponent," he referred to Norrie.

"I think it's going to be a tough final, but at the same time beautiful," he predicted.

“It is a special moment for me.

I have suffered for the last four months;

I was a bit low in spirits after the last injury, so I tried to get my confidence and rhythm back.

Going back to a final in my first tournament is important.

When I enjoy it is when I get my best level ”, settled the man from El Palmar, aware to give another blow at the first exchange.

SWIATEK REVALIDATES THE TITLE IN DOHA

AC |

Madrid

Iga Swiatek was proclaimed champion in Doha after beating American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-0 in the final.

In this way, the number one revalidated the title she obtained from her a year ago (WTA 500) and sealed this latest success in an express way: 178 minutes on the court, only five games given in the three games played.

Next, the one in Warsaw will move to Dubai.

On the other hand, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner met in the Rotterdam final after getting rid of Grigor Dimitrov (6-1 and 6-2) and Tallon Griekspoor (7-5 ​​and 7-6(5) respectively. The Russian will reappear on Monday among the top 10 and if he succeeds, the Italian would obtain the best ranking of his career by ascending to eighth position.

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