Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz met for the first time in the quarterfinals of the Miami Masters. The number 1 in the world won 6: 4 and 6: 2 against the home star in 78 minutes and thus secured a place in the last four.
Alcaraz started better in both sets and controlled the game
. Fritz was impressed with Alcaraz’s pace in the first three games of the match. Unable to find a safe spot on the court, he faced his rival’s winning shots from both ends.
Taylor mentioned that he couldn’t breathe and had never experienced that against opponents like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic! Fritz was frustrated after being broken early in both sets and knew he couldn’t afford that against such a strong opponent.
Alcaraz gave up just 15 points in nine service games, defending both break points and putting the pressure on the other side. Fritz struggled on the second serve and got broken three times, which meant he was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Carlos hit more service winners and played more efficiently with his first groundstroke. Both players scored 20 winners each. The Spaniard tamed his shots more efficiently and capitalized on his opponent’s mistakes, who made 28 mistakes in total.
The world No. 1 hit a backhand return winner down the line to earn the break early in the first game of the match. It took Fritz five deuces to win the third game and get on the scoreboard with a perfect lob winner.
Carlos thwarted a breakball in game four with a skillful half-volley winner and had to fight a breakball again in game six. The teenager parried that with another half-volley winner at the net to keep his serve.
Taylor Fritz shared nice words about Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz opened the game with an ace and took a 4-2 lead. With a forehand winner in game eight, he secured a 5-3 lead.
Carlos served at 5-4 for the set and closed it with an ace after 46 minutes. In the second set, Alcaraz managed four comfortable service games while Fritz couldn’t keep up. Carlos broke in the first game and held in the next game after a deuce with a serve winner.
Both players served well in the next four games and Alcaraz secured another break in game seven to break his opponent’s resistance. The Spaniard won the last game 5-2 on a powerful serve, defeating the American in his first duel against him.
“I felt like I had more breathing room against Rafa, Roger and Novak than I did in that game. Their playing styles are different. Novak will enjoy long rallies, slowly throwing you out of position and overpowering you.
But I can take those rallies and get a chance to attack. It was impossible against Carlos early in the duel as he fired winning shots from both sides and dealt me a lot of damage, something other players couldn’t.
Carlos gives you less breathing room than the ‘Big 3’. He played attacking tennis and he pushed me a lot,” said Taylor Fritz.
