With many risks and suffering, in a battle full of twists and turns, Carlos Alcaraz found the strength and energy to overcome Hubert Hurkacz, at the National Bank Open, advancing to the quarterfinals.
The match quickly went uphill for the world number one, who lost his serve in his inaugural first game, to find himself down 3-0. The Spaniard tried to recover the disadvantage in the fifth game but the Pole was good at canceling the two dangerous break chances granted.
At that point the 26-year-old had no more problems taking the set 6-3. The level of play has never been so high throughout the match: the notable free mistakes of the two players dominated (which will be 99 overall at the end of the match).
In the second set Carlitos suffered a break at the opening, but this time he reacted immediately restoring his balance. The Wroclaw native kept up with the 20-year-old youngster to go 6-6. In the last games, the crucial ones, Hurkacz struggled a lot to field prime (he will close with 47% in that set) and Alcaraz took advantage of it with greater aggression with the return.
So in the tie-break he led 5-1 and then finished 7-2. In the decisive set, the Spanish world no.1 started much better and, at 1-1, snatched the serve from his opponent at the first useful opportunity. The no.1 seed of the draw finds continuity in her tennis and guaranteed herself a second break of advantage, going to serve at 5-2.
Carlos Alcaraz wins crazy match with Hurkacz: the Highlights
Everything would seem to flow towards the most obvious epilogue, with even two match points available to the Spanish talent, but the confrontation suddenly reopened. Alcaraz was stubborn, did not immediately close the case and ended up losing his serve.
From that second match point, a 15-4 run brought Hurkacz back absolutely in the game (5-5, with another game sold by Carlitos even to zero), taking advantage of the drastic decline of the opponent, who basically was no longer able to field a shot.
The two reached the tie-break again and once again it was the Pole who lost his way, surrendering 7-3. For Alcaraz in the quarterfinals there will be the American Tommy Paul.