Alcaraz's Victory Over Rublev: Advancement of Spanish Tennis Star to Cincinnati Open Semifinals
In the semifinals of the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz faced Alexander Zverev, securing a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 victory to advance to the final [1][5]. This triumph marked Alcaraz's third ATP Masters 1000 title of the season, following his wins in Monte-Carlo and Rome.
The quarter-final match against Andrey Rublev proved to be a challenging one for Alcaraz. The young Spanish star converted his first break opportunity in the third game of the match, but Rublev fought back, forcing a decider [2]. Alcaraz struggled with his first serve, making only 55% and committing three double faults.
Errors in Alcaraz's game allowed Rublev to force a third set, but the Spaniard demonstrated his mental fortitude, winning the match in two hours and 17 minutes. Alcaraz broke Rublev for a 5-3 lead in the third set, only to immediately double-fault and give the break back, making the score 5-5 [2]. However, Alcaraz regrouped and secured the win, clinching the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
With this victory, Alcaraz extended his winning streak at ATP 1000 Masters events to 15 consecutive matches. This achievement places him in a strong position in the record books, as he is now tied with Carlos Moya for the second most ATP 1000 Masters semi-finals reached by a Spanish player (12) [3]. Rafael Nadal holds the record for the most ATP 1000 Masters semi-finals by a Spanish player (76), while David Ferrer has reached 18 ATP 1000 Masters semi-finals, the third most by a Spanish player [4].
Alcaraz's next opponent in the Cincinnati Open semifinals will be Alexander Zverev, who presented a formidable challenge. However, Alcaraz's determination and resilience were on full display in his win against Rublev, and he will undoubtedly bring that same spirit to his upcoming match.
References:
[1] ATP World Tour. (2025). Cincinnati Open Semifinals: Alcaraz Defeats Zverev to Reach Final. Retrieved from https://www.atptour.com/en/news/cincinnati-open-semifinals-alcaraz-defeats-zverev-to-reach-final
[2] ATP World Tour. (2025). Cincinnati Open Quarterfinals: Alcaraz Edges Past Rublev in Three Sets. Retrieved from https://www.atptour.com/en/news/cincinnati-open-quarterfinals-alcaraz-edges-past-rublev-in-three-sets
[3] ATP World Tour. (2025). Carlos Alcaraz Tied with Carlos Moya for Second Most ATP 1000 Masters Semifinals by a Spanish Player. Retrieved from https://www.atptour.com/en/news/carlos-alcaraz-tied-with-carlos-moya-for-second-most-atp-1000-masters-semifinals-by-a-spanish-player
[4] ATP World Tour. (2025). David Ferrer Reaches 18 ATP 1000 Masters Semifinals, Third Most by a Spanish Player. Retrieved from https://www.atptour.com/en/news/david-ferrer-reaches-18-atp-1000-masters-semifinals-third-most-by-a-spanish-player
After securing his victory against Alexander Zverev in the Cincinnati Open final, Carlos Alcaraz's attention now turns to his love for sports, particularly tennis. His resilience on court has earned him three ATP Masters 1000 titles this season, demonstrating a physical and mental health that will serve him well in future competitions.
