Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal will meet in Riyadh's Six Kings Slam semi-final. Carlos faced Holger Rune in a battle of the most prominent players born in 2003 in the quarter-final and ousted the struggling Dane 6-4, 6-2 in just over 70 minutes.
Thus, two Spaniards will embrace an exciting clash on Thursday, earning a chance to fight in Nadal's penultimate tournament in a career. If the stats are right, world no. 2 served at 56% and dominated in his games, winning all 25 points after landing in the first serve and keeping the pressure on the other side.
Rune could not follow those numbers, giving away over 40% of the points in his games and suffering three breaks from five opportunities offered to the four-time Major winner. Holger saved a break point in the first game of the match with a service winner and slammed a forehand winner for a hold, avoiding an early setback.
Carlos grabbed the second game at 15, and they both served well in the next six games, staying neck and neck on an indoor court.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Holger Rune in straight sets in Riyadh.
World no.
14 landed an ace in the fifth game and closed the seventh at 15 for a 4-3 advantage. Alcaraz closed the eighth game with a forehand winner and made a push on the return in the next one. The Spaniard landed a forehand winner for 30-30 and created a break chance after an entertaining point and the rival's fall at the net.
Carlos passed Holger with a crafty forehand, causing an error from his opponent and securing a break for a 5-4 advantage. World no. 2 landed an ace in the tenth game for three set points and converted the second with another unreturned serve, wrapping up the opener 6-4.
Alcaraz served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side.
The four-time Major champion secured the second straight break in the first game of the second set, welcoming the rival's forehand mistake and forging a set and a break advantage.
Carlos provided fine holds in games two and four, moving 3-1 in front with an unreturned serve. Rune suffered another blow in the fifth game, squandering game points and getting broken after Alcaraz's cracking backhand down the line return winner.
The Spaniard held at love in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead, forcing the Dane to serve to stay in the match. Holger produced a fine hold in the seventh game, reducing the deficit and hoping to extend the battle with his first push on the return.
Instead, he missed a routine forehand at 2-5, allowing Carlos to earn two match points. Holger saved them, the second with a forehand down the line winner. However, the better-ranked player created the third with a booming serve and landed another to seal the deal and set the semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal.
