World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will compete in the China Open semi-final following a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over world no. 9 Casper Ruud. Carlos sealed the deal in an hour and 44 minutes, reaching his 12th semi-final from 14 tournaments in 2023! Thus, the Spaniard stays on the title course, hoping to clinch 500 ATP points and reduce the deficit to Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race. Alcaraz fired six aces and played better behind the first and second serve. The Spaniard dropped serve once from only two chances offered to the Norwegian. Ruud failed to follow that pace, dropping half of the points behind the initial shot and losing serve four times from no less than 15 break points presented to Alcaraz. World no. 2 landed 28 winners and 25 unforced errors, taking his strokes nicely and pressuring the rival’s backhand. Casper hit only seven winners and almost 30 unforced errors, unable to match Carlos’ explosive pace from the baseline.
Carlos Alcaraz played well against Casper Ruud in Beijing.
Ruud had to dig deep right from the start, facing five break points in the encounter’s first game. Casper survived them and held after 15 minutes, avoiding an early setback. The Spaniard squandered his opportunities and lost the focus a bit, spraying a forehand error in the second game to experience a break and fall 2-0 behind. Casper forced Carlos’ error in the third game, holding at 30 and opening a 3-0 gap. Alcaraz pulled the break back in the fifth game after Ruud’s wayward smash, kicking off his comeback and gaining a boost. World no. 2 fended off a break point in the sixth game with a drop shot winner and caused the opponent’s error in the next one for his second straight break and a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz held at love in the eighth game with a service winner and served for the opener at 5-4.
The Spaniard landed an ace, holding at love and seizing the set 6-4 after 54 minutes. Carlos held after three deuces at the start of the second set and pushed hard on the return in the next one. Alcaraz defended superbly on the fourth break point and welcomed Ruud’s mistake to grab a break and open a 2-1 gap. The young gun served well in the fourth and sixth games, moving 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line. Carlos broke again in game seven and served for the victory in the next one. Alcaraz produced a hold at 15 to seal the deal and advance into the last four, happy about his performance.