Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, world number one, faced a tough test this Friday in Australia, yet he managed to prevail over Max Purcell with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The win pushed him into the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals for the first time, where he would meet Hubert Hurkacz. The match showcased Alcaraz’s resilience and ability to turn a difficult start into a winning momentum, a traits that have defined his ascent to the top of the sport.
In Cincinnati, Alcaraz has consistently tapped into a deep competitive reserve. He has already defeated three formidable opponents in three-set battles, including Australia’s Jordan Thompson and Tommy Paul, as well as Max Purcell, in tight and demanding encounters. Each victory strengthened his claim as one of the season’s most relentless competitors, leaving him just two wins away from claiming his fifth Masters 1000 title of his career.
Carlitos finds a path forward
Alcaraz’s advancement to the first Cincinnati semi-final was punctuated by a pivotal moment when he passed Purcell, sealing the victory and moving on in the tournament. This scene underscored his capacity to seize opportunities when they appear and to maintain poise under pressure, a signature element of his success on hard courts this season.
—Tennis TV coverage captured the drama as Alcaraz secured a place in the Cincinnati semifinals, a milestone that highlighted his continuing ascent in the ATP tour.
Alcaraz faced a familiar predicament from the previous year in this same stretch of the circuit. Last season, while leading Cameron Norrie by a break, he failed to close out the match and was upset. This year, now ranked number one and carrying a stronger frame of mind and tactical awareness, he did not repeat the mistake. He patiently waited for his moment and seized it, earning his spot in the semi-finals with a composed and convincing performance.
Wonderful Max Purcell
Purcell celebrated with enthusiasm after delivering a standout performance against a top-ranked opponent he had not previously faced. His week in Cincinnati had already included battles through qualifying rounds and decisive wins over high-caliber players such as Casper Ruud and Stanislas Wawrinka, propelling him into his first ATP 1000 quarterfinal. The level he displayed on Friday was a clear signal that his ranking, though not reflected in his current position, did not tell the full story of his form and potential.
Alcaraz, who had collected six titles this season including a Wimbledon crown, briefly capitalized on Purcell’s early serve. Yet Purcell steadied himself, finding rhythm and confidence late in the set to claim the opener 6-4. The Australian’s all-court aggression and timely breaks kept the contest alive, forcing Alcaraz to rally and adapt under pressure. Purcell’s serve remained a constant threat, as he used speed and precision to complicate Alcaraz’s plans in the early exchanges.
The momentum shifted as the match progressed. Purcell, while attempting to press his advantage, encountered two back-to-back double faults in his opening service game of the second set, and Alcaraz used these moments to launch a decisive response. A roar from the Spaniard punctuated a critical turning point, signaling a shift in energy as he began to demand more from Purcell in every rally.
Purcell tried to leverage selective opportunities and answered with firm serves in key moments, but Alcaraz answered in kind. The Australian saved a trio of break points at one stage and stretched the tie into a fresh chapter, yet the balance swung back in Alcaraz’s favor, who mounted a string of strong serves and a few incisive drop shots to seize control as the set wore on.
The encounter extended into a gripping late stretch, with Purcell equal to the task on several exchanges and Alcaraz calling on experience and stamina to keep the rhythm. The decisive stretch unfolded as Alcaraz found the necessary clarity, refusing to surrender momentum and sealing the set with a late, well-executed tactical sequence.
Fans watched a display of grit as Alcaraz closed out the match after a lengthy exchange that lasted just over two hours. His triumph locked in a meet-up with Hurkacz on the next day, with a place in the final on the line. The Spaniard held a couple of previous wins against the Pole, including a Toronto victory earlier in the week where he fought back from a set down to win in three. Their previous Cincinnati clash also suggested that the narrative of this matchup would be one of careful strategy and high-intensity tennis.
Alcaraz’s ascent continues, carrying the weight of expectation and the thrill of recent success. The next test would be Hurkacz, a familiar adversary who has pushed him to the limits on this hard-court season, and who paused only briefly to savor his own earlier breakthroughs on the circuit. The road to the final in Cincinnati would require more of the same poise and power Alcaraz has shown all season, a testament to his status at the peak of men’s tennis and his enduring drive to win another Masters 1000 title.