Alcaraz Battles to Victory in Toronto as Hurkacz Puts Up a Fight
Carlos Alcaraz endured a tough test before clinching a victory over Hubert Hurkacz in the 16th round of the Toronto Masters 1,000. The Spaniard dropped the opening set 3-6, then scrambled back to win the next two sets in tiebreakers, 7-6 with a 7-2 tiebreak and 7-6 with a 7-3 tiebreak, in a match that stretched for two hours and 38 minutes. This win extended Alcaraz’s impressive run to 14 consecutive victories, a streak that has continued since his title runs in Queens and Wimbledon. It is a performance that further cemented him as one of the leaders on the ATP Tour this season. — ATP World Tour coverage
Last year, Alcaraz did not advance deep on Canadian soil, but this time he moved into the quarterfinals where he will face the winner of the clash between American Tommy Paul and Marcus Giron, the latter having previously eliminated him here in this tournament’s history. The Spaniard, who hails from Murcia, now holds an outstanding 49-4 record this season and has captured six titles in 2023, underscoring his status as one of the top players on tour. — ATP World Tour coverage
Hurkacz and Alcaraz, ranked around the top 20, had met only once before this match. They previously faced each other in the Masters 1,000 semifinals in Miami in 2022, a contest won by the Spaniard who continued to rise in the rankings that year. — ATP World Tour coverage
Following the Toronto event, Alcaraz plans to keep competing on hard courts across North America. The next stop is the Cincinnati Masters 1,000, followed by a trip to New York where the defending US Open champion aims to defend his crown. — ATP World Tour coverage
In the same Toronto arena, another Spaniard, Alexander Davidovich, prepared to challenge American Mackenzie McDonald in the semi-finals, a hard-hitting match that saw McDonald upset Norway’s Caspar Ruud on Thursday. — ATP World Tour coverage
Lack of Rhythm and Comeback Motion
Toronto offered a familiar story for Alcaraz. In his opening match on Wednesday he fought through a tight battle against American Ben Shelton, winning 6-3 in the first set and then 7-6 in a decisive second. The latest evening session illustrated the same pattern: Alcaraz started slowly and misplaced some early shots, a sign of the long layoff after Wimbledon, with the Hopman Cup not fully filling the competitive gap. The early errors piled up, and Hurkacz seized momentum with his serve, building a commanding position early on. — ATP World Tour coverage
As the set progressed, the Spaniard found his footing. His forehand began to click, and he found confidence from the back of the court. Hurkacz, at 1.96 meters tall and a former finalist in this event, maintained solid serving and held steady, keeping the lead to secure the first set in 32 minutes. The early ten minutes were decisive, with Alcaraz making a handful of unforced errors that allowed Hurkacz to take control. — ATP World Tour coverage
The second set started with a renewed push from Hurkacz, who pressed at the net and forced a break. Alcaraz responded with resilience, regaining the initiative and briefly moving ahead 2-1. Although he showed moments of frustration, the Spaniard steadied his game and began to turn the match in his favor, especially after fighting off a late balance in the set. The set eventually reached a tiebreak, a stage where Alcaraz’s versatility shone brightly. — ATP World Tour coverage
In the tiebreaks, Alcaraz delivered a signature display of shot-making, blending powerful forehands with deft drop shots that unsettled Hurkacz and tilted the momentum in favor of the Spaniard. The second-set tiebreak became a showcase of composure under pressure, pushing the match to a deciding third set. — ATP World Tour coverage
The deciding frame saw Hurkacz briefly regain his resistance, capitalizing on a few missed opportunities by Alcaraz. Yet the Spaniard found a surge of form, breaking serve twice to move ahead and threaten to close out the match. With the finish near, Alcaraz faced a stretch of tense moments, including two saved match points, before finally securing the victory and sealing the win in intense fashion. The final phases highlighted Alcaraz’s improved forehand and clutch play when it mattered most. — ATP World Tour coverage
As the night wore on, the path forward for Alcaraz looked clear: continue sharpening his hard-court game across North America, build on the momentum from a string of major titles, and aim for further success as the season advances toward the US Open. The Toronto result added another chapter to a season defined by resilience, elite shot-making, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. — ATP World Tour coverage