Both players earned hard-fought victories in intense three-set semifinal battles on Saturday.
Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Jannik Sinner, prevailing 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Medvedev narrowly edged out American Tommy Paul with a scoreline of 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2.
Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion and one of the most formidable players on the tour this season, initially seemed poised to dominate the match. However, a rain delay halted play after he clinched the first set, allowing Alcaraz time to regroup.
Alcaraz seized momentum in the second set, breaking Sinner’s serve with a powerful forehand and showcasing his versatility with a well-executed drop shot. Despite Sinner’s determined efforts, including a dramatic dive to keep a crucial point alive, Alcaraz’s athleticism and precision proved decisive.
As errors crept into Sinner’s game, Alcaraz capitalized on his opportunities, securing a double break and ultimately sealing the victory with a confident crosscourt forehand winner. This victory not only denied Sinner the opportunity to claim the world number two ranking but also halted his impressive 20-match winning streak dating back to the previous year.
“I stayed strong mentally and that’s very important,” Alcaraz said after ending his opponent’s winning streak this season at 16 matches. “I had to run more, defend better than I did in the first set. Put more balls in. Stay strong on the court.”
Medvedev clawed his way to a similar comeback victory against Paul, who stormed out of the gates, conceding just one game in the opening set before the Russian mounted his resurgence.
Despite Paul’s resilience, saving two set points to push the second set to a tie-break, Medvedev seized control by winning five consecutive points, leveling the match.
In the third set, Paul faltered, surrendering his serve from a commanding 40-0 position in the opening game. The set unfolded dominantly for Medvedev, who swiftly closed out the match, maintaining his trajectory towards avenging his loss to Alcaraz in last year’s final.
Reflecting on his opponent’s performance, Medvedev acknowledged, “He played an unbelievable first set. So I was like, OK, if I want to win I just have to try to do a little bit better to find the shot that’s going to make him in trouble. I found some, especially on his serve.”
(With Reuters inputs)