Carlos Alcaraz books Hubert Hurkacz Rotterdam semifinal

Carlos Alcaraz put down another command performance at the ABN AMRO Open on Friday, blitzing Pedro Martinez, 6-2, 6-1, to book a semifinal clash with Hubert Hurkacz.

The top seed has lost just six games in his last two matches and thrilled the Rotterdam crowd with another shotmaking masterclass to overcome his countryman in 70 minutes on Center Court.

Awaiting him in the final four is Hurkacz, who won a popcorn quarterfinal against Andrey in the final match of the day (Alcaraz leads 3-0 HH). Hurkacz rallied from a set down to defeat Rublev, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in three grueling sets.

Alcaraz shook off a slow start to his Rotterdam debut when he went three sets with Botic van de Zandschulp, who defeated the Spaniard last summer at the 2024 US Open. Since rallying to defeat his Dutch rival, he has looked every bit the player who won back-to-back major titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, soaring past Andrea Vavassori and now Martinez just over an hour.

“I played really good tennis today, a really high level,” Alcaraz said on court.

“I was really focused before the match, on my things, on my own tennis. I tried to put everything in today: being aggressive, pushing him to the limit every point. I think I did the perfect match and I am happy to keep improving every day. Hopefully in the semi-finals I will be even better.”

The 21-year-old has already won 16 ATP titles—including four Grand Slam trophies—but the former world No. 1 is looking to make his first final of the season after falling in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open.

It was in Melbourne that Alcaraz was thwarted in his bid to become the youngest man to capture the Career Grand Slam, having already captured titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. Shaking off a last-eight lost to Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz is hoping to win his first title since last fall, when he won the China Open in Beijing over Jannik Sinner.

But first, Alcaraz will have to get past Hurkacz, who is into his first semifinal without Iga Swiatek (who paired with him to make the United Cup finals in January) since last June (Halle) after overcoming Rublev in in two hours and 23 minutes. The former world No. 6 has struggled for consistency for much of the last year, but looked to kickstart his career by hiring former Olympic champion Nicolas Massu as his new coach ahead of the 2025 season.

Against Rublev, Hurkacz finished with an impressive 40 winners to 35 unforced errors, scoring a crucial break in the final set to ultimately serve out his spot in the semifinals.