Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Jordan Thompson in Cincinnati, prepares for US Open

Posted : 16 August 2023

Carlos Alcaraz's quest to find his peak performance on hard courts continues as he readies himself for the upcoming US Open, scheduled to commence on August 28. Alcaraz faced a setback in the quarter-finals in Toronto, where he succumbed to Tommy Paul.

His journey in Cincinnati was equally challenging, as he narrowly overcame Jordan Thompson, surviving a formidable test on Tuesday evening. The round-of-32 clash concluded well past midnight due to an early rain interruption in the first set.

Securing his 50th victory of the year, Carlos Alcaraz battled through a demanding encounter, triumphing 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open. The world No. 1 endured a challenging contest, struggling to deliver his optimal performance amidst the rain-disrupted match on Tuesday night.

During the match, Alcaraz rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the opening set, eventually clinching it despite committing 26 unforced errors. Thompson retaliated by capturing the second set, setting the stage for Alcaraz's eventual resurgence, as he summoned improved tennis to secure the victory in a match that extended slightly over three hours.

The round-of-32 encounter, which concluded at the late hour of 1am local time, encountered a delayed commencement due to a 20-minute pause at 1-1 in the initial set.

Reflecting on the challenging circumstances, Alcaraz commented, "It wasn't an easy match but I found my best level at the end. We were waiting around all day to play the match and then when you step on the court you have to start with the rain, so it wasn't easy. But you have to find a way to win these matches in this type of situation."

After a surprising exit in the quarter-finals in Toronto, where he fell to Tommy Paul, Alcaraz has welcomed back coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in Ohio this week. With Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both participating in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, the Spaniard aims to maintain his world No. 1 ranking.

Novak Djokovic, commencing his campaign against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday, poses a challenge for Alcaraz. Alcaraz's Cincinnati journey holds significance, as he must at least reach the final stage to prevent various scenarios that could result in Djokovic reclaiming the top spot.

Maintaining an impressive record of 50 wins against 5 losses this year, the 20-year-old Alcaraz seeks to secure his seventh title of the year. Previous victories in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Queen's, and Wimbledon underline his dominance. In the upcoming rounds of the Cincinnati Open, Alcaraz will face either Ugo Humbert or Paul in the last 16.

Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Jordan Thompson in Cincinnati, prepares for US Open

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