WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina entertain in Barcelona battle
Alcaraz #Alcaraz
World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz won a thrilling contest against compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(5), 6-4 at the Barcelona Open on Friday afternoon.
The defending champion was stretched at times but rose to each test that his countryman threw at him.
Alcaraz has now beaten two fellow Spaniards in his pathway to the semi-finals of the ATP 500 event after he battled past Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday.
“It was really tough for me,” Alcaraz said after the match.
“I started playing pretty well, serving for the first set.
“I was not able to win [that game]… I was going really fast, a lot of things on my mind.
“[After the first set] I was talking to myself, positive things, trying to play long rallies, trying to [be there] through the points, trying to feel more comfortable with myself.”
While he could not regularly play his best tennis on a chilly and windy day in Barcelona, Alcaraz handled crucial occasions effectively after losing the lead in both sets. While his level fluctuated, he leaned on his reliable drop shot at several crucial points and seemed to will himself to victory at the end of each set.
Throughout the two-hour, ten-minute encounter, Davidovich Fokina countered power with power and disturbed Alcaraz. On four occasions, he was two points away from winning the first set, but he never faced a set point after letting an early lead slip in the tie-break.
In the instant classic, the pair split 22 break points, with Alcaraz converting four to his opponent’s three to ultimately edge the day.
Alcaraz survived six break points to take a 2-1 second set lead and capitalized with a break in the next game, only to have Davidovich Fokina snatch it back with the shot of the match and perhaps the week overall — a wicked drop volley that gripped and spun back onto his side of the net, eliciting a wry smile from Alcaraz.
WATCH: Inspired Dusan Lajovic downs Novak Djokovic in sensational Banja Luka upset
“The hot shot is from him today,” said Alcaraz.
“He played really well, great shots. Probably not only the one hot shot. He made a lot of them, probably more than me. It was a really fun match.”
Alcaraz won the match with a break of serve in the final game and will now await the outcome of Barcelona’s Friday nightcap between Great Britain’s Dan Evans and Francisco Cerundolo to determine his last four opponent.
WATCH MORE ATP TOUR CONTENT HERE