Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune go back almost a decade despite their still budding careers. The two met in a junior tournament when both were 12, and played doubles together in the 2017 Le Petits As. Additionally, both two stars were born only six days apart, eerily similar to Djokovic and Murray’s ages separated by seven days. It took a while for both players to clash at a Grand Slam, but such finally occurred Wednesday; Alcaraz defeated Rune 7-6(3) 6-4 6-4 to reach the semifinals.
Match Recap: Carlos Alcaraz def. Holger Rune
An Exciting First Set
The first set was arguably the most hotly contested of the three, as Alcaraz initially had to persevere through multiple tough service games. He faced a break point in the opening game, ultimately the only break point he had to face the entire match. The Spaniard also came back from 0-30 on two occasions, at 4-4 and 5-5 in the first set. It was never in doubt that Alcaraz would fail to capitalize, as his first serve got him out of trouble. Across the entire match, Alcaraz won 75% of points on his first serve, compared to merely 57% for Rune.
There were certainly moments of excitement in the first set as well. Rune was able to dictate with his forehand, creating some exciting shots. The Dane also got the crowd on its feet with a phenomenal stick volley to level at 5-5.
Unfortunately for Rune, nerves in the first set tiebreak got to him. At 3-3, Rune painfully served a double fault, and Alcaraz took full advantage. The Spaniard won the next three points, hitting a fantastic return winner to win the opening set and letting out a huge roar. Alcaraz’s intensity and energy became intimidating at times, implicitly telling his friend and opponent that he was still miles ahead of him.
Alcaraz Takes Full Initiative
Alcaraz also broke in the second set with a return winner, taking a 5-4 advantage. The Spaniard was increasingly able to use touch shots to his advantage, toying with Rune at times. Alcaraz also hit zero unforced errors in the second set, with his consistency primarily evident in his fantastic serving display. Rune, on the other hand, was unable to find ways to take control of points.
The match also became a physical struggle in the third set, with Rune dealing with minor cramps. Although they were nothing compared to Alcaraz’s unfortunate blow at the French Open against Djokovic, it made it difficult for Rune to stay in the rallies.
Alcaraz’s exuberant confidence shined in the third set, and he began to take some risks. On his first match point, the Spaniard cracked a 118 mph second serve down the line, clearly looking to cap off his win in style. The Spaniard double-faulted, a serve illustrative of a reality check, yet he won the match two points later after Rune floated a backhand long.
Next Up for the Spaniard
Wimbledon 2023 won’t get any easier for Alcaraz, as the top seed has to go through Medvedev and likely Djokovic to win his second Major. His rivalry with Medvedev stands at 1-1, as the Russian achieved his only win over Alcaraz at Wimbledon. Yet, that match took place two years ago when Alcaraz was still an up-and-coming player, and his game certainly acclimated to clay far better then. Of course, a final showdown with Djokovic would be box-office tennis.
Perhaps overlooked given Djokovic’s imperious form, Jannik Sinner could also be coming up for the Spaniard. That matchup might even be better than any other Wimbledon final showdown, with both players bringing out the best in each other. Look no further than their colossal and riveting target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”US Open quarterfinal last September.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
