On a blustery Doha night, 21-year-old tennis phenom Carlos Alcaraz navigated challenging conditions to defeat former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 in the Qatar Open’s first round. The Spaniard’s resilience shone through during key moments, battling both his veteran opponent and swirling winds that disrupted play.
The match turned during an 18-minute seventh-game marathon in the first set, where Alcaraz secured a crucial service break. After closing out the set, he faced another critical test at 3-4 in the second – saving three break points and winning 15 of 19 subsequent points to clinch victory in under two hours.
\"Staying calm under pressure made the difference,\" Alcaraz said post-match, praising Cilic’s relentless returns. The World No. 2 advances to face either China’s Zhang Zhizhen or Italy’s Luca Nardi as he continues his Middle East campaign.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz beats Cilic in windswept opening round match at ATP Qatar Open
cgtn.com
