Alcaraz Relieved After a Thrilling Fight

He certainly didn't get a free ticket into the finals: tournament favorite Carlos Alcaraz (21) had his hands full in the semifinal of the ABN AMRO Open against solid Polish player Hubert Hurkacz. After a thrilling fight of almost two and a half hours in a boiling Rotterdam Ahoy, the Spanish superstar could finally let out a victory roar. He booked his spot for Sunday with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 win. If Alcaraz triumphs against Alex de Minaur today, he will be the first Spanish champion of the tournament.

"It’s great to reach the final in my first participation in Rotterdam,” shared a relieved Alcaraz after the match. Initially, the world number 3 seemed to be struggling to breathe when the Polish eighth-seed put him under pressure. Hurkacz, blessed with a powerful serve and a big heart, had a lightning start. Alcaraz: "Hubert surprised me: he played at an incredibly high level in the beginning and didn’t miss a ball, while I wasn’t playing badly at all. Fortunately, I was able to put a bit more pressure on him as the match progressed by playing a bit more aggressively.''

This led to an intense semifinal battle with high entertainment value, where the crowd revelled in the masterful passing shots and lobs from Alcaraz. Hurkacz, despite the loss, also produced his fair share of admirable shots, much to the joy of the audience in Ahoy, who showed its appreciation by escorting him off Centre Court with a standing ovation.

For 'Carlitos,' reaching the final is a milestone: he has already won 16 ATP titles but has never won an indoor tournament. "I know that people say that I don't perform well on indoor courts, but this week I showed that I can also do well indoors," shared Alcaraz. And as the title favorite noted, Rotterdam has immediately embraced the Spaniard. "It was fantastic to see how the public got involved again tonight. The atmosphere here is great."

In the meantime, his nose plaster has become his trademark in Rotterdam. He wears it to get more air after he arrived in Rotterdam with a cold earlier in the week. "It certainly helps me breathe freely, but now I won't take it off until I've won the tournament," he said, grinning. If Alcaraz manages to win the tournament today, he will be the first Spaniard in the 52-year history of the tournament. "I understand that, yes. It's just an extra motivation for me, to give my best out there and fight until the end.”

Alcaraz realizes that he has to produce his top level of tennis again to win the title. "I know Alex as a very interesting, but also very difficult opponent." The four-time Grand Slam winner may have a small psychological advantage: Alcaraz won their two previous encounters with De Minaur.