Carlos Alcaraz is the first finalist of the Masters 1000 in Madrid: on his 20th birthday, the Spaniard beats Borna Coric 6-4, 6-3 without too much trouble, respecting the forecast by reaching the final of a tournament he already has won last year. Destruction of Zverev after eliminating Nadal (in quarterfinals) and Djokovic (in semifinals). Easier route this year for the boy from Murcia. At 8 p.m. the other semi-final between the Russian Karatsev and the German Struff.

the match

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Coric gives away his sliding goal with the 3-1 ball (answer into the net) in the fourth game. From that moment Alcaraz takes the lead and scores 3 consecutive games, going up to 4-2 with a break lead held by Carlos who closes the set 6-4. In the second part, the Spaniard ups the ante, snagging two consecutive breaks (leaving one for his opponent). The counter-attack he taunts Coric at the start of the fifth game is superb, but in general Alcaraz’s tennis gets a lot more creative in the second set. The Croatian, 5-3 down, needs to serve to stay in the game but he’s paying off all his efforts this week (he played a 3.5 hour match against Davidovich). Coric also misses a sensational smash at 15-15 and shuts down, giving Alcaraz the fourth final of a 1000 in his career (he won the first 3).