Synopsis
Carlos Alcaraz showcased an impressive performance at the Rotterdam Open, referring to it as a 'perfect match.' He achieved a decisive victory over Pedro Martinez, securing his place in the ATP Tour semi-finals. With his consistent form, Alcaraz aims for his first title of the season in the upcoming matches.Key Takeaways
- Alcaraz delivered a 'perfect match' against Martinez.
- He maintained his dominance over fellow Spaniards with 12 consecutive wins.
- Alcaraz will face Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals.
- Martinez improved his ATP ranking despite the loss.
- Hurkacz defeated Rublev to reach the last four.
Rotterdam, Feb 8 (NationPress) Carlos Alcaraz described his recent display at the Rotterdam Open as a ‘perfect match’ after advancing to his initial ATP Tour semi-final of the year. The Spanish player overwhelmed fellow countryman Pedro Martinez with a score of 6-2, 6-1 on Friday, extending his remarkable streak to 12 consecutive victories against fellow Spaniards.
"I played exceptionally well today, at a truly high standard. I executed the right strategies once more," Alcaraz remarked post-match. "I maintained intense focus before the match, centering on my game and my style of tennis. I aimed to give my all today, being aggressive and pushing him to his limits on every point. I believe I delivered a perfect match and I’m thrilled to be improving daily. I hope to perform even better in the semi-finals."
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz showed no signs of exhaustion after needing three sets to defeat Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match in Rotterdam. He followed this with a dominant showing against Andrea Vavassori in the second round and maintained his superiority against Martinez, concluding their 71-minute encounter in a stunning manner. The top seed recorded 17 winners in the first set and never encountered a break point.
Alcaraz has now joined an elite circle of Spanish players who have reached the semi-finals at the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam, following in the footsteps of his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero (2004), Rafael Nadal (2009), and Pablo Carreno Busta (2020). He is set to face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in his 33rd tour-level semi-final, aiming for his first title since Beijing in October.
Martinez, aged 27, was striving for his inaugural tour-level semi-final but found it difficult to match Alcaraz’s intensity. Despite his exit, Martinez’s impressive performance in Rotterdam—including victories over Roberto Bautista Agut and Holger Rune—has propelled him to No. 40 in the ATP Live Rankings.
In the final match of the day, Hurkacz secured his place in the semi-finals by overcoming the 2021 Rotterdam champion Andrey Rublev with scores of 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. The eighth seed delivered 17 aces during a two-hour, 27-minute battle, enhancing his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Rublev to 4-2. This victory also marks Hurkacz’s return to the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings, after a brief absence since April 2021.
Now competing in his 21st tour-level semi-final and his first since Halle in June, Hurkacz is eager to claim his ninth ATP Tour title. With both Alcaraz and Hurkacz in peak condition, their semi-final clash is set to be an exhilarating encounter at the Ahoy Arena.
