From razing against number 5 in the world to passing Caïm’s against 41. From shining in a final to suffering in a debut. From smiling in Barcelona to shaking to win in Madrid. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz survived an erratic day to beat Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours and 16 minutes. Now the Bulgarian Dimitrov awaits him.
Five days after raising the Godó with an exhibition against Tsitsipà s, Alcaraz returned to the arena to make his debut in Madrid. Playing in the spotlight, the Murcian found it difficult to carburate. He couldn’t find the height of the balls, he got tangled up and didn’t show his usual body language, full of confidence and aggression. It was a more muted, cold Alcaraz; in front of a Ruusuvuori, eliminated in the round of 16 in Barcelona, ​​who hardly made any mistakes. The Finn was disconcerting Alcaraz and in the fourth game he already broke his serve. Neither the forehand, nor a backhand that tortured him, nor the lefts worked for the Spaniard. He was looking in his corner, at a worried Juan Carlos Ferrero, and he didn’t leave the shop. In 36 minutes, 6-2 for Ruusuvuori, with 14 unforced errors from Alcaraz, who in Barcelona did not lose a single hose. The danger was falling into the rush; the situation required holding on to the track. Alcaraz likes to hit and accelerate, but the game demanded to find a safety zone and let time pass.
The weather that led was a fundamental game. The sixth of the second set. It lasted almost 14 minutes and Alcaraz saved (with 3-2 against) five breaking balls, one of which on the bot, sensational. “At that time it was the only thing I could do and it turned out well for me”, he said after the match to TVE. This spectacular point redoubled the passion of the Murcian, who grew and in the following game achieved his first break. Alcaraz’s rise coincided with the Finn’s nerves. 6-4 for Alcaraz in an hour and the match tied.
The third set started with another break from Murcia, who did not lose the initiative, got a new break to make it 4-1 and settled the match shortly after. The scare had passed.
