This is how Alcaraz escaped from Cilic's 'trap': "It was key to stay calm"

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Carlos Alcaraz boldly navigated his debut at the ATP 500 in Doha, where veteran Marin Cilic put him in trouble under conditions that have always favored him. However, at 36 years old and coming off a 2024 season where he was nearly unnoticed, it's normal that he couldn't muster the energy to battle against one of the big attractions on the circuit. Still, credit must be given to Marin, who came close to pushing it to a third set, eventually succumbing in 1h39min to the Spanish player. Where was the turning point? In the second set, with Cilic leading 3-4 and 0-40. A very delicate moment which Carlitos managed to navigate by staying composed, making a comeback, and steering the win towards the finish line.

"We all know how Marin Cilic plays, he constantly applies pressure, especially during service games," analyzed the World No. 3 in his interview with Tennis TV. "He has a very aggressive game that causes damage, he's very dangerous on returns. I am very happy to have overcome that situation, as ultimately that difficulty gave me the opportunity to stay in the second set, to survive somehow. It was crucial to remain calm at that moment, stay composed, and return to my usual routines. I immediately focused on my shots, my hits; that was the only way to win this match in straight sets," said the 21-year-old.

The truth is that any result tighter than the double 6-4 scoreline that prevailed in the end would have almost been unjust. Because Alcaraz was superior in all aspects except one, the first-serve percentage, where Cilic hit 65% and he 63%, which is practically the same. He made fewer unforced errors, struck more winners, dominated with his second serve, saved more break points, and overall outperformed Marin in every parameter. This is just the beginning, his sixth consecutive victory, but it's time to already think about the next match. Zhizhen Zhang or Luca Nardi? We will have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

START OF A PROMISING JOURNEY

Tennis TV's co-host only managed to ask two questions: with the first covering the present and the second evoking nostalgia. He struck a chord by reminding Alcaraz of the fifth anniversary this week since his first official ATP victory in February 2020, during the Rio Open, which stunned Albert Ramos and captured the attention of the entire tennis world. As soon as the question was posed, you could see that smile on Carlos' face, the same smile of that boy who made waves at 15 years old to confirm that a new alien had just landed in the tennis universe. Obviously, the excitement that overflowed in his response takes us straight back to that moment.

"That was like a dream, I remember it as something very special. At that time, everything was very different, perhaps that's why I remember it as a dream, although it was also a very challenging period due to the pandemic and all the difficulties it brought within the circuit. It's incredible that five years have already passed since then, undoubtedly the journey to get here has been amazing, but that victory will always be unforgettable as the first one. I have achieved many of my goals, been World No. 1, won Grand Slam titles, so I can only describe this whole journey as a dream," concluded the El Palmar native.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así escapó Alcaraz de la "trampa" de Cilic: "Fue clave mantener la calma"