Cincinnati Masters: Carlos Alcaraz Ends Max Purcell's Dream Run, Hubert Hurkacz Advances
News 18World number one Carlos Alcaraz ended Australian qualifier Max Purcell’s dream run with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals on Friday, while Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz got past lucky loser Alexei Popyrin 6-1 7-6. The Spaniard failed to convert his only break point chance of the first set in the second game before helping Purcell to the crucial break in the seventh game with an unforced error. Down a break in the third, Purcell refused to go down without a fight, fending off four break points in an epic third game before neutralising Alcaraz’s mighty forehand to break back in the fourth. “I got off to a good start and then Alexei played some good points, but fortunately I battled through for that one.” The evening programme sees ninth-seeded American Taylor Fritz take on Serbian second seed Novak Djokovic, while France’s Adrian Mannarino plays German number 16 seed Alexander Zverev.