Alcaraz flicks switch to edge closer to glory

After his effortless dismissal of De Minaur, the Spaniard is two matches from achieving his career grand slam dream

- Tumaini Carayol

One of the biggest matches of Alex de Minaur’s career was already falling from his grasp when his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, compounded his misery with a stroke of genius.

Midway through the third set, the result all but a formality, De Minaur pounded an aggressive forehand down the line and flitted forward to the net. Against nearly any other player in the world, the Australian would have won the point. Against Alcaraz, the world No1, De Minaur watched helplessly as the Spaniard chased down the ball and slid to his right, whipping a forehand down-the-line pass that did not come back. De Minaur could not hide his rueful smile.