Carlos Alcaraz bested ailing Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-3 in the Cincinnati Open semifinal on Saturday. The opening set was an even contest as both players were able to play at a very high level. The German had two break points in the fourth game of the opening set but could not capitalise on them.

However, Alcaraz was able to get a break in the seventh game of the first set with a perfect volley. Zverev then struggled physically in the second set and also left the court for a medical timeout at 2-1. The German could not bring his best in the second set as Alcaraz levelled the Lexus ATP Head2Head series vs. Zverev at 6-6.

“It’s never easy playing against someone who you know is not feeling 100 per cent. It’s even tougher when it comes from Sascha, such a great player, such a great person off the court. We have a really good relationship,” Alcaraz said after levelling the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 6-6.

“We started the match really well, playing good rallies, a good level of tennis,” added the Spaniard, who escaped 0/40 at 1-2 in the opening set. “But then all of a sudden he started to feel bad. And then my focus I was on how he’s feeling, besides focusing on myself and playing good tennis. It was a really difficult situation for me, and I just wish him all the best.”

Alcaraz will face arch-rival Jannik Sinner in the summit clash. The duo had recently faced each other in the Wimbledon final, in which Sinner had won in four sets.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against him once again,” said the Spaniard, who fell in four sets to his rival in their most recent meeting at Wimbledon. “We raise our level to the top, and we bring a really beautiful tennis to the match. I’m ready to take the challenge. I’m ready to see the things that I did wrong in the last match and try to be better on that side on Monday.”

The final will be played on Tuesday.