Carlos Alcaraz through to Rio Open final despite injury

The US Open champion struggled with a leg injury but still managed to fight back from a set down to defeat an inspired Nicolas Jarry 6-7(2) 7-5 6-0 on the clay courts of the Brazilian capital.

After edging the opening set in a tiebreaker, the Chilean was two games away from victory in the second set and with Alcaraz receiving physio treatment on his upper left leg, Jarry smelled blood. But Alcaraz rallied to hold serve and then break Jarry to love and force a deciding set.

The Spaniard took that momentum into the third needing just 31 minutes to close out the set to love and secure a place in his second final in as many weeks.

It's been a busy return to tennis for the teenager, who will play his ninth match in 12 days on Sunday.

"I'm so proud of myself," quipped the 19-year-old on atptour.com.

To be in a final again in my second tournament is a really special moment for me... I couldn't ask for a better start of 2023.

"It was a really tough first set, coming back from a break down. And then playing a tie-break that I didn't really play well, it's tough to come back.

"Then I came back from 0/40 in the first game [of the second set]. It was really tough. But [I kept] a positive attitude to stay there and [took] my chances... It's all I can say. But honestly, I don't know how I did it."

Alcaraz will face Cameron Norrie for the second week in a row in a Sunday final. Last week in Buenos Aires, he defeated the Brit in straight sets.

The article Carlos Alcaraz through to Rio Open final despite injury appeared first on Planetsport.com.