Alcaraz seals semifinal spot at Cincinnati Open with hard-fought win over Purcell
ATPFriday, 18 August 2023 at 23:29
Carlos
Alcaraz defeated Max Purcell in three sets by 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and advances to the
semifinals of the Cincinnati Open.
World No. 1
reached the quarterfinals after receiving a bye in the first round and then
securing victories over Jordan Thompson and Tommy Paul, both in challenging
three-set matches. Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals for the fifth time in a
Masters 1000 event out of six participations, only failing to do so at the Rome
Open, where he was eliminated in the third round by Fabian Marozsan.
Purcell
came into the match with five wins in Cincinnati, having progressed through the
qualifying rounds and then advancing in the main draw with victories over Lloyd
Harris, 5th seed Casper Ruud, and Stan Wawrinka. The Australian is
participating in his second Masters 1000 main draw after reaching the second
round just a week ago at the Canadian Open.
The first
set saw both players responding well on each other's service games, but both
held their serves until 3-3, where Purcell secured the first break to take a
4-3 lead on his first break point opportunity. The Australian held onto his
serve and clinched the set 6-4.
The second
set began with Alcaraz's dominance as he quickly broke his opponent's serve and
took a 3-0 lead. World No. 1 didn't falter on his service and maintained the
lead to win 6-3. He won 83% of his first serves and 77% of his second serves,
compared to Purcell's 57% and 70%, respectively.
The third
set started with Alcaraz taking an early lead with a break in the first game,
but Purcell managed to break back in the fourth game to level at 2-2. In the
ninth game, Purcell succumbed to the pressure from the 2-time Grand Slam
champion and conceded a break, giving Alcaraz the decisive advantage.
In the
semifinal, Alcaraz will face Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated strong opponents such
as Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, 15th seed Borna Coric, and 4th seed Stefanos
Tsitsipas. In the quarterfinals, Hurkacz defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-1, 7-6(8),
securing his first Masters 1000 semifinal appearance of the year.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- Is there no one in Pro Tennis willing to give this one some form of intervention before she crashes??
mandoist04-09-2026 - Double Standards for the male players? Gross. BTW: This "apology" reads like the one his lawyers wrote for him when he had to go to the Kangaroo Court for slapping his girlfriend around.mandoist04-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not just the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- In her defense... she has no "defense" and likely could not articulate it if she did.mandoist03-09-2026
- Someone is not enjoying her gradual slide down the rankings, which became noticeable last season. BTW: That reporter's on to something familiar -- the effects of Social Media Stardom on one's Second Priority (Tennis). Shades of Bouchard, Giorgi, Raducanu, etc.mandoist03-09-2026
- Sabalenka seems so unhappy. When you get angry after every mistake you make on court, you’ve got some issues sweetie! She also does seem to be “partying” a lot if you follow her social media (I don’t lolol). Very immature personality.DaveyWavey03-09-2026
- The main difference for bigger names like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverez, etc. is that they usually make it to the later stages of tournaments while 99% of the other players win a round or two and then move on to the next tournament. The bigger names are playing more, playing longer and therefore more injury issues. The money is great but it all comes with a price!DaveyWavey03-09-2026
Loading
