Alcaraz Plays ‘Perfect Match’ to Secure Spot in Rotterdam Semis

He reached his first ATP Tour semi-final of the season on Friday at the ABN AMRO Open, defeating Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-1. By doing so, he maintained his impressive record against countrymen.

Pursuing a routine victory, as he was against Botic van de Zandschulp on his debut in Rotterdam, Alcaraz was slightly disrupted for three games to see off Andrea Vavassori in the second round.

The 21-year-old continued that clinical win with a solid display against Martinez, who was tugged for the most part of the 71-minute contest.

"I played really good tennis today, a really high level. And I have done the right things again," said Alcaraz. "I was really focused before the match, on my things, on my own tennis. I tried to put everything in today. Being aggressive, pushing him to the limit every point. I think I did the perfect match and I am happy to keep improving every day. Hopefully in the semi-finals I will be even better."

Alcaraz has now won his last 12 matches against compatriots and is the fourth Spaniard to reach the last four at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, joining coach Juan Carlos Ferrero (2004), Rafael Nadal (09') and Pablo Carreno Busta ('20).

Chasing his first title since Beijing in October, the top seed will meet Pole Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday evening in his 33rd tour-level semi-final.

Martinez was seeking his first tour-level semi-final on his fifth try. He simply could not compete with the power of Alcaraz in front of a hometown crowd in the Ahoy Arena. Alcaraz hit 17 winners in the first set, Infosys ATP Stats reported, and never faced a break point in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter.

The 27-year-old Martinez won over Roberto Bautista Agut and Holger Rune this week and rises to No. 40 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Hurkacz sealed his return to the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday as he advances past 2021 Rotterdam champion Andrey Rublev 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in the final match of the day.

The eighth seed fired 17 aces en route to a two hour, 27-minute quarter-final win over Rublev. Hurkacz now leads the fourth seed 4-2 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series, and he will return to the Top 20 after dropping out for the first time since April 2021 on 27 January.

Hurkacz enters his 21st tour-level semi-final and first since Halle in June, looking to win his ninth ATP Tour title this weekend.