In a closely contested match on Tuesday, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz after overcoming a difficult start and mounting a comeback that saw the match go to three sets.
The match was competitive from the opening game. Fritz managed to hold serve after a grueling nine minutes, facing two break points but saving his serve with three aces. After the players traded breaks, the set culminated in a tiebreak, which Fritz dominated 7-2, securing the set with two powerful aces.
The second set saw a tense battle. At 2-2, Alcaraz appeared rattled, with his signature drop shots falling short. Despite losing the advantage five times on his serve, the Spaniard managed to hold on. Alcaraz secured a crucial break in the final game of the set, aided by a fortunate shot that clipped the net and rolled over, allowing him to take the set and level the match.
In the third and final set, Alcaraz found his form and "outclassed" an visibly "exhausted" Taylor Fritz, completing the comeback victory.
Following the win, Alcaraz expressed relief: "I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match... I wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I was in the first round, but I’m really happy that I found a way to come back.”
