Carlos Alcaraz continues to showcase why he and Jannik Sinner are currently two of the most dominant players on the ATP Tour. The Spanish star moved into the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals after defeating Luca Nardi, equaling a remarkable milestone previously reached only by tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras.
Alcaraz cruised through the first set against the Italian, winning 6-1, though the second set proved more challenging. After several long games, Alcaraz closed it out 6-4, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Andrey Rublev.
The World No. 2 is virtually unstoppable, having won 27 of his last 28 matches, with his only loss coming to Sinner in the Wimbledon final. Included in that stretch is a 14-match winning streak in Masters 1000 events—a streak dating back to 1990 when the format was introduced.
During that run, Alcaraz captured titles at both the Monte-Carlo and Rome Masters. With that achievement, he becomes only the third player in history to win 14 consecutive matches at Masters 1000 events, joining Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz on his strong performance against Nardi
The five-time Grand Slam winner was clearly superior to his opponent, who had entered the main draw as a lucky loser. Alcaraz wrapped up the first set in just 27 minutes, seemingly setting the stage for a straightforward night.
However, Nardi fought back in the second, taking a 4-2 lead, but Alcaraz responded and eventually claimed the set after 80 minutes of play. Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz called it his best showing of the tournament so far.
“I think this match was the best so far for me in this tournament,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “At the beginning of the tournament, I just really wanted to get better every day, after every practice and every match. I think I’m doing it, which I’m really proud about. I’m just really happy with the way I felt the ball today and the way that I moved”.
Alcaraz is enjoying a stellar season, currently holding a 51-6 record and winning titles at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam, Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo and Rome, Roland Garros, and the ATP 500 at Queen’s Club. He now aims to capture the Cincinnati Open for the first time in his career, which would give him eight career titles at events awarding 1,000 points.