Carlos Alcaraz wins three-set epic against Miomir Kecmanovic to reach maiden Miami Open semi-finals
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 01/04/2022 at 07:49 GMT
Aged 18 years and 10 months, Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest man in tennis history to make the sunshine double semi-finals after an entertaining three-sets victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, who pushed him to the very end. Alcaraz has beaten Martons Fucsovics, Marin Cilic, Stefanos Tsitsipas and now Kecmanovic to reach the semi-finals. Alcaraz had not won a match in Miami before this year.
Highlights: Alcaraz overcomes Kecmanovic to reach Miami Open semi-finals
Carlos Alcaraz progressed to the semi-finals of the Miami Open after a 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(5) win over Miomir Kecmanovic in two hours and 26 minutes.
The 18-year-old, who also enjoyed a run at Indian Wells to the last four last month, dropped to his knees after overcoming the world No. 48.
Alcaraz is now 16-2 for the season and sets up an exciting match against defending champion Hubert Hurkacz, who stunned world No.2 Daniil Medvedev with a 7-6(7) 6-3 victory over the Russian earlier on Thursday.
"I think that I'm playing in Spain," Alcaraz said after the match on Hard Rock Stadium, where he twice come back from two points from defeat in the final set.
"It's unbelievable. The energy that they push to me, it was crazy. I think without them it would not be possible to get into the semi-finals today.
"The rest of the match I'm trying to hit the ball hard to push the opponent off the baseline.
"The drop shot is good for me. I have confidence with that shot. In the tough moments, you have to hit the best shots that you have."
Kecmanovic, who has been one of the standout young players on the ATP tour this season, raced into a three-game lead in the opening set.
Alcaraz pulled the break back in the seventh game, but it was the Serb who came out on top in the tie-break, recovering from 4-3 down to take it 7-5.
Alcaraz would not go down easily and he went on to win the opening three games of the second set. The Spaniard had to rescue a break point at 5-3 up before producing a sublime forehand winner to force a decider.
There was not a single break point in the third and Alcaraz only took the lead in the tie-break on match point. He finished off in style, producing a fierce passing shot winner to seal his place in the last four.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2203.png)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/6944.png)