Alcaraz escapes alive from Dzumhur's trap

Despite a strong start by Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two had to roll up his sleeves to not be overtaken by Damir Dzumhur, who improved throughout, pushing the Spaniard until the last game of the match. Ultimately, the world number two secured the victory with a scoreline of 6-1, 2-6, and 6-3 in 1 hour and 43 minutes. His next opponent in the ATP Cincinnati 2025 will be the winner of Griekspoor vs Medjedovic.

It didn't take Carlitos long to find himself on the American tournament courts, comfortable at the net and with ample freedom of movement on the blue court to lead right from the start on the scoreboard. Dzumhur's backhand variations didn't yield the expected results for the Bosnian during the first half-hour, and despite trying to catch the Murcian off-guard with his multiple net approaches, he couldn't do so.

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Frustration crept in during the first hour of play for a Damir who couldn't get anything going. The world number 56 tried to prolong the exchanges, but his errors came sooner rather than later, with 14 unforced errors compared to two winners, perfectly reflecting a first set that was completely dominated by Alcaraz.

Alcaraz's Serve-Volley Tactics Shine

Not even a good first-serve percentage helped a cold Damir from the baseline with all his shots, with only one passing shot that managed to disrupt exciting moments from Carlitos, who didn't falter at any point. Everything dramatically changed in the second set.

Dzumhur Reacts Just in Time

Much more active on his feet and energetic from the baseline, the Bosnian awoke his opponent from his dream debut, securing his first break of the match to completely shift the dynamics. In less than five games, Damir won as many points as in the entire first set, providing a rather unexpected twist after the initial thirty minutes.

Nearly as swift as the Spaniard, Dzumhur claimed the second set, posing a real threat to Alcaraz's tennis, who faded entirely during this phase, significantly increasing his unforced errors and failing to respond to his opponent's resurgence.

Alcaraz Solves the Equation

Following the ups and downs of both players in the first and second set, Damir and Carlos showcased their best tennis at the crucial moment, with long rallies dictating play, along with a strong presence at the net. It seemed everything was set for a definitive conclusion with a break from the Spaniard, but his opponent resurged once again to pose challenges. Despite all fluctuations, the Murcian tennis player managed to close out a tough initial test in the ATP Cincinnati 2025 with his serve.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz sale vivo de la trampa de Dzumhur