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Carlos Alcaraz is forced to accept brutal reality as he collapses in shock Miami Open defeat

Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of completing the Sunshine Double are over after Grigor Dimitrov stunned the sellout Miami Open crowd at Hard Rock Stadium with an Carlos Alcaraz was defeated by Grigor Dimitrov in a surprise match at the Miami Open, ending his hopes of completing the Sunshine Double with a victory over Carlos Alaraz. Dimitro, a Bulgarian player known for his impressive performance, won 6:2, 6:4 and 6:8 respectively in a top-flight quarter-final clash. Despite Alcaraza's comeback, he collapsed in the final play of the game and was forced to accept the reality that he was beaten by a better player. He will now face Germany's Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. In other matches, defending champion Daniil Medvedev defeated Nicolas Jarry to secure a semi-final second leg with Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz is forced to accept brutal reality as he collapses in shock Miami Open defeat

公開済み : 4週間前 沿って Matthew West

Carlos Alcaraz is forced to accept brutal reality as he collapses in shock Miami Open defeat

Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of completing the Sunshine Double are over after Grigor Dimitrov stunned the sellout Miami Open crowd at Hard Rock Stadium with an inspiring performance.

Dimitrov has rarely played with the sustained brilliance he displayed against Alcaraz in a top-flight quarter-final clash. The final score of 6:2, 6:4 underlines the Bulgarian’s irresistible dominance.

Alcaraz looked stunned as Dimitrov threw a series of brilliant passes in his direction and closed the set like a work of art with the final backhand.

Dimitrov then took a 4-1 lead in the second set before Alcaraz broke Dimitrov’s serve with powerful forehands after a spine-tingling comeback.

But the more experienced player held his nerve and collapsed in the final play of the game, with the joy he showed at the end underlining the magnitude of his achievement.

“To beat Carlos you have to do your best. “That’s just the way it is,” Dimitrov explained.

“I went into the game very focused and had a clear idea of ​​what I had to do. Sometimes simplicity is genius.

“It’s very difficult to do that, especially against such an opponent. But I was really able to dictate and read the game better than last time.

“Overall a very great game for my hand. I’m just glad I got through in two sets for once.”

Alcaraz couldn’t complain as he was forced to accept the brutal reality that he was beaten by a better player that day.

The Spaniard hasn’t had to put up with such a dismal result too often in his young career, but this was Dimitrov’s moment.

The Bulgarian now faces the task of facing Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, with the on-site interviewer quick to remind Dimitrov that he hasn’t beaten his next opponent since 2014.

READ MORE: Daniil Medvedev talks about his popularity compared to Carlos Alcaraz and offers a theory

Zverev has won his last seven games against Dimitrov, but the underdog in the next clash suggested this could be the moment for a turnaround.

“It’s a numbers guy,” he added after waiting 10 years for a win against Zverev. “It is like it is. Just another opponent for me at the moment.

“I want to see what I did today first to prepare for the next one. That’s my goal at the moment. I don’t want to think too much. I don’t want to think, “Oh God, I’ve played him so many times.”

“It’s just another game. I’m so grateful to be here in the semi-finals. The furthest I have achieved at this event. It gives me a lot of joy.”

In the other half of the ATP draw in Miami, defending champion Daniil Medvedev overcame a late challenge from Nicolas Jarry to secure a semi-final second leg with Jannik Sinner.

Medvedev defeated Sinner in the Miami final last year, but the Italian came from two sets down to win the Australia Open title in January.

World number four Medvedev edged Jarry 6-2 in the first set but had to fight for a tie-break win in the second set as the Chilean fought his way back into the match.

“In the first set I thought I played at a good level, didn’t do anything more, just enough to win,” Medvedev said.

“Then he started playing a lot better and there were tough rallies, tough points. He served better and the tiebreak was down to just a few points.”

Sinner reached his fourth semi-final of the year when he defeated Tomas Machac 6-4 6-2 in 91 minutes.

“Physically I’m fine. “I’m just happy to be competing,” Sinner said.

“We are training very hard to reach these positions and I am really happy to be able to play in the semi-finals again here at such a special tournament.

“It’s special for me, I reached my first Masters 1000 final here, so I’m really happy to be in the semi-finals again.”

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