Carlos Alcaraz overpowered Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 under difficult weather conditions at the Cincinnati Open to record his 50th victory of the year.
The Spanish player remained calm despite the hot Ohio weather to record his 13th consecutive Masters 1000 win to advance to the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
The early trading of the first set was well-fought but momentum shifted drastically with the score at 3-3. Medjedovic repelled three break points but lost on the fourth, committing a double fault that gave Alcaraz the initiative.
At the end of the opening set, Medjedovic received physio treatment for neck discomfort. During the second set, he played in a more aggressive manner to cut points short in the stifling heat. Although the Serbian was able to break back for 3-3 and even led Alcaraz in winners—25 to 16—his aggressive play was too unpredictable to defeat the world-class Spaniard.
A couple of ill-timed drop shots by Medjedovic gave Alcaraz a break for 4-3, and this time around the two-time Grand Slam winner kept his grip. The match lasted 95 minutes, with Alcaraz converting three out of seven chances at the break points, reports ATP.
With Masters 1000 titles already won in Monte-Carlo and Rome in his present stint, Alcaraz will play Luca Nardi in Cincinnati as he looks for an eighth title at this elite level.
Both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have qualified for the ATP Finals, with both players ready to engage in a bitter fight for the Year-End No. 1 spot. Alcaraz is leading Sinner by 1,500 points in the ATP Live Race To Turin.
In other news, ninth seed Andrey Rublev edged out 21st seed Alexei Popyrin in a draining three-hour, 30-minute battle, triumphing 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 to level their ATP Head-to-Head record to 2-2.
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