Carlos Alcaraz and Luca Nardi met for the primary time on the skilled circuit within the second spherical in Doha. World no. 3 and the highest seed was the favourite, and he proved that on the court docket. Carlos bested his coeval 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in an hour and 52 minutes for a spot within the final eight.
The Spaniard was off to an incredible begin, dominating on serve and return and forging a 6-1, 4-1 benefit. As a substitute of giving up, Luca turned the tables and launched his comeback. The Italian grabbed 5 straight video games to steal the set in type and drive a decider.
Luca Nardi também mostrou que tem muita qualidade… mesmo contra Carlos Alcaraz.
Que ponto do italiano!#TenisNaESPN
— Marcela Linhares (@ma__linharess) February 19, 2025
Nevertheless, Alcaraz recovered his recreation and served effectively within the final a part of the duel. The four-time Main winner clinched a break in recreation 4 and introduced the victory dwelling with out additional points.
The Spaniard clinched a break at love within the first recreation of the encounter and gained confidence. He missed extra break probabilities within the third recreation and served effectively to maintain the strain on the opposite aspect. Struggling to impose his strokes, Nardi skilled one other break in recreation 5.
Carlos Alcaraz, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
Carlos held within the subsequent one for 5-1 and wrapped up a formidable set together with his third break of serve a couple of minutes later. Alcaraz saved pushing within the second set and secured a break within the fourth recreation that despatched him a set and a break in entrance.
World no. 3 led 6-1, 4-1 and seemed good to carry the victory dwelling in quarter-hour. Nevertheless, his leveled dropped, and Luca seized his likelihood! The Italian broke again in recreation seven and held at love within the subsequent one for 4-4. Nardi gained a lift and secured one other break in recreation 9.
Luca Nardi, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
The Italian produced one other maintain at love in recreation ten, rattling off 14 of the ultimate 15 factors and introducing a decider. Nevertheless, world no. 3 made a contemporary begin within the third set and served effectively, mounting the strain on the opposite aspect.
Alcaraz broke within the fourth recreation and closed the subsequent one after deuces to open a 4-1 hole. The Spaniard produced holds at love in video games seven and 9, sealing the deal and shifting into the final eight.
