In a pivotal US Open 2023 semi-final showdown, tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged his defeat to Daniil Medvedev as an eye-opener, teaching him the art of maneuvering pressure in elite matches. The 2021 champion, Medvedev, halted Alcaraz's title defense, outclassing the Spaniard in a riveting four-set encounter.
Riding a wave of impeccable form into the semi-finals, hopes were high for Alcaraz to break the title defense jinx. However, Medvedev’s ferocious backhand winners and strategic plays nullified Alcaraz's famed serve-and-volley tactics.
With a staggering 88% first serve success rate, Medvedev maintained his dominion throughout the first two sets. Reigning champion Alcaraz grappled, finding it challenging to counter Medvedev's deliveries. A noteworthy highlight was Alcaraz's inability to seize eight of his nine break point chances, playing a pivotal role in shaping the match's outcome.
Medvedev’s mastery was evident, not just in saving break points, but also in dominating shorter rallies, clinching 101 out of 174 points that concluded in four strokes or less.
"He played a really, really great game. I couldn't find solutions," Alcaraz told the press in New York.
"I thought that right now I am a better player [who can] find solutions when the match is not going in the right direction for you. But after this match, I'm going to change my mind. I'm not mature enough to handle these kind of matches. So I have to learn from that," he added.
While Alcaraz is set to pass the No. 1 baton to Novak Djokovic, his stellar performances, including a Wimbledon win and semi-final spots at both Roland Garros and the US Open, underline his promising future.
Brushing off the US Open setback, Alcaraz emphasized focusing on the lessons from the match rather than the result itself.
"I don't think I'm gonna think about this loss for a long time. Of course, I have to learn about it. I want to be better," he said.
"You know, these kind of matches help you a lot to be better and grow up in these kind of situations," Alcaraz added.
On the horizon is an electrifying US Open men's final. Medvedev, marking his third final appearance in the last four years, is primed to face tennis titan and 23-time Grand Slam victor, Novak Djokovic.
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