"Honestly I don't know what happened": Alcaraz baffled at sudden slide against Hurkacz in reaching Canadian Open Quarter-Final
ATPFriday, 11 August 2023 at 21:30
Carlos
Alcaraz discussed the challenging match he overcame against Hubert Hurkacz at
the National Bank Toronto Open.
World No. 1
showcased his prowess once again to advance to the quarter-finals with a
comeback victory over the Polish player, ultimately sealing the win in the
third-set tie-break.
The 2-time
Grand Slam champion started off trailing in the scoreline, losing the first set
3-6, but managed to push the next two sets to tie-breaks. In the third set, he
found himself down 5-2 but made a strong recovery and ultimately triumphed over
Hurkacz with a score of 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).
“Honestly,
I didn’t know what happened. I started feeling bad at that moment,” Alcaraz
said.
“I couldn’t
feel the right way in my shots. I didn’t know what happened. But what I was
thinking was to stay calm, try to find a way to overcome the problems and find
the good feeling again. I think at 5-6 serving, I started to feel better.
The
20-year-old young star mentioned that top players strive to play well in every
match until the last point:
“The big
players have that feeling to find a way to stay alive and try to end the match
playing well.
“In
difficult moments you have to believe in yourself and your style, you have to
go for it, it doesn’t matter if you win or not. You have to play the best you
can at those times. In the tie-breaks I have done very well, and that is the
reason why I got the victory.”
World No.
17 once again suffered a defeat in a Masters 1000 match against Alcaraz,
extending the Spanish player's lead to 2-0 in their head-to-head record. In
their previous encounter in the semifinals of the Miami Open, Alcaraz secured
the victory with two impressive tie-breaks, resulting in a score of 7-6(5),
7-6(2).
The first
seed will now face American player Tommy Paul, the 12th seed of the tournament,
who previously defeated Argentine players Diego Schwartzman and Francisco
Cerundolo, as well as his compatriot Marcos Giron.
The
head-to-head record between Alcaraz and Paul is tied at 1-1, with the
American's victory coming in the 2022 Canadian Open. At that time, ranked World
No. 34, Paul surprised Alcaraz in the second round with a score of 6-7, 7-6,
6-3 in favor of Tommy Paul.
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.
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