Carlos Alcaraz firing on all cylinders! Second consecutive thrashing in Rotterdam

Friday, 07 February 2025 at 21:01

Carlos Alcaraz has lost just six games in his last two matches at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. After delivering a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Andrea Vavassori in the round of 16, the Spaniard showed no mercy against Pedro Martínez, defeating him by the same scoreline.

He is still wearing a nasal strip to help him breathe better and blowing his nose during changeovers, but apart from that, Alcaraz is proving that his health is in top shape. He is displaying his best tennis of the season so far, steamrolling anyone who stands in his way.

Just like in yesterday's match, these two sets had little history. Pedro Martínez holds up better in baseline rallies than Vavassori, but he lacks the Italian’s serve. And Carlitos is a killer on the court—if he smells blood, he will go for it. He punished Martínez on return whenever he had the chance.

Alcaraz continues working on his new serve

Once again, he had the opportunity to focus on what he worked on during the preseason regarding his serve. The difference in power was too much for his opponent. The numbers don’t lie—the gap in winners between the two was staggering. On top of that, the world No. 3 made even fewer unforced errors than usual.

It’s true that he hasn’t faced any player considered world-class yet, but he is showing clear improvement with each match. His real first test, and perhaps the toughest challenge he could face this week (with all due respect to Alex de Minaur), awaits him in the semifinals.

Read also

He will take on the winner of the match between Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev. The Polish player is one of the best servers on tour and a specialist on indoor hard courts, while the Russian seems to be slowly recovering from a dreadful start to the 2025 season.

Smooth sailing for @carlosalcaraz ⛴️

The No. 1 seed defeated Martinez 6-2, 6-1 and reaches his first semifinal in Rotterdam!

Could Alcaraz win his first indoor title this week? 🤔 #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/knXTwmmSGl
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 7, 2025

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.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

(VIDEO) Belinda Bencic’s hilarious mid-match phone mishap steals the show in Abu Dhabi

Preview Women’s Qatar Open featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff