By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 15, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook
Shadows swallowed up center court when Carlos Alcaraz finally saw the light.
Alcaraz survived a severe challenge from Andrey Rublev scoring a topsy-turvy 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory to advance to his second Cincinnati Open semifinal.
It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always pretty. Alcaraz completely lost his first serve in failing to serve out the match at 5-3 and was staring down the prospect of a third-set tiebreaker.
Then Rublev double faulted twice in the final game, including a deep double fault on match point as Alcaraz wobbled but refused to yield in a frenetic two hour, 17-minute victory.
The second-ranked Spaniard scored his 15th straight ATP Masters 1000 win and reached his 12th Masters 1000 semifinal, equaling former world No. 1 Carlos Moya for third most among Spanish men.
Refuse to lose 🤩
The moment @carlosalcaraz notched his 15th consecutuve Masters 1000 victory!#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/fQeswM1U9Y
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 15, 2025
The 22-year-old Alcaraz will play either third-seeded Alexander Zverev or Toronto champion Ben Shelton for a spot in the final and a potential shot at world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
So far, Sinner has looked more commanding in this Cincinnati Open.
For the second time this tournament Alcaraz was pushed the three-set distance and for the second time he survived by putting more returns into play and applying his all-court acumen to cause the sometime tightly-wound Rublev to finally break after a gritty effort for much of the match.
Rublev is highly skilled straddling the baseline and ripping the ball on the rise. However, the Russian’s transition game and net skills aren’t exactly assets.
Alcaraz knows it and dragged Rublev forward with the drop shot-lob combination to gain break point. Luring his opponent forward agains with a another drop shot, Alcaraz intercepted the pass and blocked a backhand volley breaking for 2-1.
On the ensuing changeover, Rublev raged at chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani asserting the serve clock was starting too early and rushing him. Lahyani pointed out the clock starts automatically in an effort to quell Rublev’s anger.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz walked right by the imbroglio without pausing to even listen then issued a strong hold at 15 for 3-1.
Attacking the Russian’s second serve, Alcaraz earned double set point in the ninth game. The Spaniard splattered a smash seizing a one-set lead after 35 minutes. Alcaraz won nine of 13 points played on Rublev’s second serve and converted both of his break points.
The second seed slashed through a two ace game to start the second set.
Across the net, Rublev settled in and rolled through 12 of his first 13 service points to even the second set 3-all.
In the seventh game, Rublev ran around a mid-court slice and flicked an audacious inside-out forehand winner. That shot preceded an Alcaraz double fault and helped the Russian earn his first break point.
When an anxious Alcaraz sailed a forehand long, Rublev snatched his first break and a 4-3 lead.
Firing through a firm hold, Rublev extended his lead to 5-3.
The 2021 finalist Rublev unloaded a pair of massive first serves to serve out the second set at 15 and force a decider after 75 sweaty minutes of play.
Munching on a banana during the changeover, Rublev celebrated a second set that saw him serve 70 percent, win 20 of 23 points played on his serve and exploit Alcaraz’s mid-set stumble.
Stress struck Rublev in the fourth game as he hit two double faults, was repeatedly catching his toss and sometimes barked at his box after miscues. Still, Rublev saved a pair of break points drawing backhand errors from the Spaniard. A slick backhand swing volley struck from above his shoulders helped Rublev cap that spirited stand leveling at 2-all.
Down love-30 in the following game, Alcaraz fired his forehand with bad intentions winning four points in a row edging ahead 3-2.
Sliding into the corner at full speed, Alcaraz somehow flicked a phenomenal lob. That bit of brilliance preceded a bold backhand return that gave the Spaniard double break point. A biting return followed by a backhand blast crosscourt gave Alcaraz the break and a 5-3 lead as he unleashed a Vamos!
THIS. MATCH. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Y0EC9WdYBF
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 15, 2025
Rublev was not done. Serving for the semifinal, Alcaraz could not buy a first serve and Rublev jumped on a second serve down the T smacking a forehand return winner for double break point. Paying the price for a game filled with missed first serves, Alcaraz saw Rublev break right back for 4-5.
Alcaraz deployed the drop shot effectively for much of this match and used it again to draw the error and help him hold for 6-5.
In the final game, Rublev had a game point at 40-30, but Alcaraz, who hit a slick forehand pass down the line earlier in the game, fired another forehand then drew an errant backhand for match point.
Rublev, who had caught his toss frequently in the final set, slapped a double fault deep—his eighth double fault of the day—to cap a high-octane match with a misfire.
Though Alcaraz only faced two break points all day, he missed several backhand returns and his first serve deserted him briefly. Still, Alcaraz kept his cool and sealed his ATP-best 52-6 record.
Continuing his quest for a sixth title this season, Alcaraz is now 37-2 since the start of April and still standing in the Queen City.
