Alcaraz needed almost 3 hours to win. He celebrated with the result 6:7(2), 7:5, 6:3.
The very first game hinted at a big fight, and Fritz won it after eight minutes and two saved break points.
In the second game, Alcaraz found himself in a similar situation, having to save three break points, but eventually he succeeded.
Then Alcaraz breaks for a 2:1 lead, but the tenacious Fritz retaliates with a ribbreak and shows that he is well prepared to deal with the Spaniard in fast indoor conditions.
By the end of the set, we saw two more break points, both in the eighth game on Alcaraz’s serve, which the Spaniard managed to save.
The impression was that Fritz wins his service games much more easily than Alcaraz his, and this was evident in the tiebreak, which Fritz plays dominantly, winning 7:2 and reaching the lead in the match.
Fritz continued with a fantastic game in the second set, he completely locked his service games and prevented Alcaraz from doing anything serious on the return, and then came the fifth game.
A game that lasted more than 13 minutes and in which Fritz had two break points and the best chance to break the match in his favor, Alcaraz eventually won thanks to incredible points in key situations.
After that, the momentum of the match shifts to the side of the Spaniard, who in the eighth game reaches the first break point since the very beginning of the match, but does not use it.
What he didn’t use then was four games later when he got three tied breaks and a set ball on the American’s serve.
Fritz saved the first, but not the second, and Alcaraz won the second set with a score of 7:5.
In the third set, we see a much more dominant edition of the Spaniard, who makes the decisive break in the sixth game, and then confirms it for a 5:2 lead.
Alcaraz could have made another break, given that he had three break/match points in the eighth game, but Fritz managed to save them and extend the match.
Nevertheless, Alcaraz won the next game routinely, and with it the third set with a score of 6:3, thus achieving another crucial victory in the fight for the position of number 1.
As a reminder, Alcaraz, in case he wins the next match against Lorenzo Mussetti, will definitely be number 1 at the end of the year, regardless of what Jannik Sinner does in the rest of the tournament.
(Vijesti.ba)
