2 Responses to wb23alcaraz_rune

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 12, 2023 at 9:02 pm

   Points won by each set: | 45-41, 27-23, 31-22 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   36 % Alcaraz – 34 of 92
   30 % Rune – 30 of 97

   The second main-level meeting (*third counting NextGen) of the two best young players in the world, who are separated just by six days in terms of berth. Given their skills, I assume it’s the first of approximately ten Grand Slam meetings between them. No breaks of serve in the opener, Rune [5] had a break point in the first game, Alcaraz [1] escaped from 0/30 at 5-all. In the tie-break, the six days younger Spaniard played a backhand return winner DTL at 6:3 (Rune’s first attempt to play S/V) which set up the pace for the rest of the quarterfinal. The crucial breaks came at 4-all and 2-all in the following sets (Rune took a toilet break between them). Rather disappointing encounter, in my opinion they both played below their standard levels, being perhaps tense thinking about importance of that clash. Rune has now lost all his three Slam quarterfinals (two previous to Ruud), but I expect him to break the new ground at the US Open ’23 or the Aussie Open ’24. In both these events he should be seeded with no. 4 which guarantees him avoiding Alcaraz or Djokovic in the quarters.

   Serve & volley: Alcaraz 5/6, Rune 0/2

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   July 12, 2023 at 9:22 pm

   * at Next Gen ATP Finals ’21 when both were 18, Alcaraz won 4-3(6), 4-2, 4-0

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