By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday February 17, 2024
Chile's Nicolas Jarry handled Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to reach the final at the Argentina Open.
Photo Source: TTV
These days Chile’s Nicolas Jarry is considered a menace to all. The hard-serving forehand-crushing 28-year-old has enough of a high-octane game to ruffle the feathers of all the top players.
On Saturday at the Argentina Open he did more than simply ruffle feathers. The 21st-ranked Chilean scored a milestone win over World No.2 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, 7-6(2), 6-3, winning a high quality affair by being stronger in the bigger moments as he handled Alcaraz his second loss of the season and set a final with Argentinian qualifier Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Jarry improves to 1-2 lifetime against the 20-year-old Spaniard with the win. He took a set in each of the pair’s meetings last season, but went several steps further today.
"Third time lucky," Jarry said of his first win over Alcaraz. "Carlos is one of the best players so it means a lot, especially after the battles I've had a couple of days ago. It's been very tough physically, so I'm very happy to be able to come back.
"I didn't start very well and couldn't win points on his serve, but I came back little by little."
Jarry concluded a first set that didn’t feature a single break point opportunity by winning six of the final seven points in the tiebreak. It was an impressive statement of intent.
Alcaraz, riding a six-match winning streak in Buenos Aires, hit back immediately, breaking for 1-0 in set two, but his lead lasted less than a few minutes as Jarry returned the favor in the next game.
Jarry missed on a break point for 4-2, but hit his mark a few games later, giving Alcaraz a taste of his own medicine by clicking on a magnificent drop shot to get to break point, then sending a laced return at Alcaraz’s footsteps to draw the forehand error and the critical break for 5-3.
The wild ride was not over yet, as Jarry faced two break points in the next game, but ultimately the Chilean had enough in the tank to secure the victory and his spot in the final.
Alcaraz has now gone seven events without reaching a final. In a streak dating back to the US Open, the Spaniard has lost his last four semifinals.
Earlier on Saturday Diaz Acosta reached his maiden ATP final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Federico Coria. The Buenos Aires native lacks experience – he has just eight ATP wins to his name, with six coming this season – but he will get the crowd on Sunday.