Alcaraz three-peat bid on track as Cerundolo downed

AFP | Indian Wells

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Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought off determined challenger Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters.

On another cold, blustery night in the California desert, Alcaraz battled back from 1-4 down in the second set, coming up with a break and two love service holds to force the tiebreaker as he kept his bid to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles on track.

Alcaraz had to save break points in each of his first three service games. But after an emphatic hold for 4-3 he gained the first break of the contest with a deft volley and just like that he was serving for the first set.

After sliding to pop a drop volley winner over the net for set point Alcaraz drilled a deep forehand that Cerundolo could barely get a racquet on.

But it was Cerundolo who broke first in the second, finally converting his ninth break point of the match then holding for 4-1.

But he couldn’t hold off the world number three, who raced to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker on the way to victory.

“It was really difficult for me to start the match,” said Alcaraz, who looked less comfortable in the windy weather than he did just a day before.