Carlos Alcaraz, ranked No. 2 in the world, delivered an impressive performance on Friday to defeat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-4 and advance to the semi-finals of the ATP Finals.
The 20-year-old confidently proved his skill with a sharp performance in his last match of the Red Group, securing a spot in the semi-finals alongside Medvedev. Despite Medvedev, the third seed, showcasing impressive tennis, Alcaraz was able to take advantage and secure crucial breaks in each set.
Alcaraz, despite losing his first match to Germany’s Alexander Zverev, is currently in first place in the Red Group. He will go on to face the runner-up of the Green Group, Novak Djokovic, in an exciting semi-final match. The other semi-final will showcase Medvedev against the crowd favorite, Jannik Sinner.
Early on, Medvedev appeared to be the more threatening player and missed opportunities to gain an advantage in the fourth game. However, Alcaraz, who is participating in the tournament for the first time, stepped up his game at 3-3 and executed four incredible shots to earn a break without losing a single point. He capitalized once again at 4-4 in the second set, taking advantage of Medvedev’s mistakes to secure another break of serve. Alcaraz then wrapped up the win in a dominant manner.
“I had to maintain mental fortitude as I was facing some difficulties with my serve and his return game was exceptional,” Alcaraz stated. “But I remained composed and resilient.”
Alcaraz and Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, are scheduled to face each other for the first time since Alcaraz’s defeat to Djokovic in the Cincinnati final.
Zverev emerged as the victor in the final group match against Andrey Rublev, winning 6-4, 6-4 and earning the sole prize money up for grabs.
Zverev stated that he wants to reflect on the week in a positive light. He was able to defeat Alcaraz and Rublev, which has allowed him to return to the top eight rankings. Winning two matches has given him a lot of hope and motivation for the upcoming year.
