Carlos Alcaraz escaped a desperate situation on court at the Cincinnati Master on Saturday, saving a match point on his way to overhauling Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to reach the final.
The world No. 1 will retain his ranking heading into the US Open starting a week from Monday, relegating Novak Djokovic to second spot at the last major of the season.
The 20-year-old salvaged the potential match-winner from Poland’s Hurkacz in the 10th game of the second set after losing the first.
The Spaniard also rallied from 4-1 down in the second-set tiebreaker and never let his momentum slip on the way to victory in two and a quarter hours.
“It’s been a really tough tournament for me, all my matches going three sets,” Alcaraz said.
“I’m happy to win these kind of matches by staying strong mentally. I’ve grown up a lot with these experiences.
“It’s great to be in the final,”said the player who saved 10 of 11 break points.
Alcaraz called his victory “a mental battle, I had to stay present and positive all the time..
“I knew I would have chances, I just had to take them. I’m happy I was able to win it.”
Alcaraz clocked his 53rd match win of the season as he bids for a seventh trophy in 2023.
He broke for 3-1 in the final set in a sprint to victory, advancing on a drop volley winner.
Alcaraz will aim for his third Masters trophy of the season after Indian Wells and Madrid. Cincinnati will be his eighth final of 2023.
