And he’s shy, he says. At ten in the evening, Carlos Alcaraz dedicates a few words in Italian to the 13,000 present at the evening, who can’t wait to continue. Nice, but short. The second semi-final lasted less than an hour and a half (6-2 and 6-4, after 1h22′) and the Masters Cup presents the desired and expected lineup. It will be him and Jannik Sinner, obviously. Pure logic. Any other result would have been a big surprise. Both dismissed the duels as if they were swatting away a fly and will meet again this Sunday (6pm, Movistar+) in the last episode of the year, before the shutters finally close next week at Davis in Bologna.
“I was very happy with Today’s part“, jokes Alcaraz after having surrendered to Felix Auger-Aliassime, who proposed good arguments in advance but, once again, they were of little use. The happy Spaniard surpassed him with a stupendous performance, sealed with only 10 unforced errors and the same air of reconciliation with the ball that his racket conveyed two days earlier, against Lorenzo Musetti. For the first time, the one from El Palmar will play the masters final and will do so against the dominator of format, Sinner Supported by an exceptional record, those 30 indoor victories, the one from San Candido will try to tame this theoretical (and practical) superiority on the pitch.
You know, Alcaraz gives him rashes. In total, fifteen matches – 10-5 in favor of the hosts these days -, seven of which in the final – 5-2 for him too – and five crosses this season (4-1) in which everything else seems to have been reduced to mere props. The two sail alone and also monopolize this chapter with an uncertain prognosis, because in light of the figures the Murcian offers that intimidating ability towards his opponent. They hadn’t seen each other since the US Open, when the second analyzed and extracted: “I have to make some changes.” Two months later, the Inalpi Arena will decide to what extent the effect of those adjustments will reach and whether Alcaraz’s gold will continue to be equally shining. A Canadian is blind.
Hard to decipher, Auger-Aliassime. He has the physique and the punches, but he lacks all the confidence that Alcaraz exudes, who hydrates and approves: in fact, he’s doing very well. He solved the first set without needing to press the accelerator and it doesn’t seem that the Canadian will get up, that he will rebel, that he will go against that permanent destiny of all those who face each other. They are practically defeated. Alex de Minaur fought a little more in the first pass, but the Australian ended up losing irretrievably and, then, the North American’s spirit lasted just 37 minutes. And it could have been less. It falls breakthe story is over.
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From the beginning emergencies for him, cornered, anguished, without a clear plan with which to hurt or destabilize Alcaraz in the slightest, who gives more and more rhythm to the story and closes it with clarity. A semi-final worth asking for. Today there are two or three abysses between them and the others, very far from the quality, commitment and spirit of two feverish competitors who, in addition to being very good, have stood up to the best without any fear: here we are. It’s either this or nothing. His determination clashes with the alliances of others, and in that field of doubt a promise called Auger-Aliassime is evaporating.
It is eighth in the world and will rise to fifth place on Monday, which means how cheap access to the main floor is today. And not because he isn’t a magnificent player, which he is, but because competing – in the narrow sense imposed by tennis’ abrasive elite – requires so much more. Whoever doubts or looks to the side falls. Alcaraz and Sinner are not waiting for anyone. They’re both on rockets and the others are on snails’ backs, in mental terms. Both require physical, technical and tactical effort so continuous and so corrosive that rivals eventually collapse. The story has become predictable. Wherever it is, the same (and blessed) final poster. Rare if it doesn’t happen.
Barring accidents, the present seems destined to propose a duopoly that dominates, harasses and imposes. How they want, when they want. A kind of after-dinner movie where we know more or less how it will end, with the only unknown being whether it will end one way or another. Sinner arrived at the tournament after a stroll through Paris and Alcaraz was full of victories; eight trophies and two finals for him. Auger-Aliassime tries in the second set, but it’s essentially a matter of checking whether the Spaniard won’t get tangled up. He did it recently in La Défense, then maybe therethe person in front might think. No slips this time, so once again, final fireworks. Brooch according to the year.
The Italian defeated him first in Australia, the Murcian reacted strongly at Roland Garros and then came the English response; from there to New York, there the response of the now number one, and then a beautiful tug of war between Asia and the European roof. With the world throne already decanted in favor of Alcaraz, Torino will decide this Sunday who finally smiles on an individual level. Fantastic exchange of words and a circuit completely divided in two: that unattainable attic where they live and the mundane territory from which the rest of the players can’t raise their heads. Crumbs, a little more. Draper, Mensik, Shelton, Vacherot took advantage of specific absences or vicissitudes.
The rest, the happy journey of the two wonders.
Carlos Alcaraz
against
Felix Auger Aliassime
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