Ruud, also making his debut in a final at this level, beat the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, the great surprise of this tournament, one of the most prestigious on the calendar after the Grand Slams.
Alcaraz, for his part, dethroned the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, the reigning champion, by a score of 7-6 (7/5) and 7-6 (7/2).
The Spanish tennis player is already the second-earliest finalist in the tournament’s 37-year history, second only to compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was a month younger when he lost the 2005 final to Roger Federer.
The new diamond of Spanish tennis continues to burn stages at full speed. Two weeks ago he played his first Masters 1000 semifinals in Indian Wells but fell in a fast-paced duel against his idol Nadal.
On Friday Alcaraz, number 16 in the ATP, gave another example of his immense potential by beating Hurkacz, number 10, with less than 24 hours of rest after his battle on Thursday against the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Hurkacz, for his part, arrived with maximum confidence after eliminating the Russian Daniil Medvedev the day before, favorite for the title in the absence of Djokovic and Nadal.
“He has played well here and was the defending champion, but I have played a very good game on my part”, declared a radiant Alcaraz before the Miami public, who has captivated him with his dizzying tennis.
The Spaniard competed on Friday with a point less spark but, in the moments of greatest pressure, he again made fewer errors than his rival, especially in the two tie breaks.
The game also left one of the most unusual actions of the tournament when Alcaraz, trailing 5-6 in the first set, conceded a repeat of a point earned because the chair umpire had mistakenly signaled a double pot on a Hurkacz shot.
– Ruud wakes up the Argentinian Cerúndolo –
At the start of the day in Miami, the Norwegian Casper Ruud ended the dream career of the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, the most unexpected guest in these semifinals.
Ruud fulfilled the predictions by beating Cerúndolo, number 103 in the ATP, 6-4, 6-1 and became the first Norwegian to reach a Masters 1000 final.
The Argentine could not give a new surprise in Miami but leaves as the tennis player with the lowest position in the ATP ranking to reach the semifinals of the event.
“Of course I’m a bit angry now but I have to see the whole two weeks have been amazing. I think I played my best tennis”, declared the porteño.
Cerúndolo was able to overcome crosses against well-established rivals on the circuit, such as the Italian Jannik Sinner (11th in ATP), who abandoned in the first set, and the Americans Reilly Opelka (18th) and Francis Tiafoe (31st), executioner of his little brother Juan Manuel in the third round.
With no ATP trophies but a Top-50 spot already assured, Cerúndolo aspired to be the fourth Argentine to reach the Miami final, after runners-up Guillermo Cañas (2007), Guillermo Coria (2004) and Alberto Mancini ( 1992).
Cerúndolo left brushstrokes of his class in several brilliant actions but paid for his nerves against a rival thrown towards the first major final of his career at 23 years old.
“This means a lot to me. Reaching a Masters final was a goal”, acknowledged the Norwegian, who had lost his previous three semi-finals in tournaments at this level.
Ruud, who this year added his seventh ATP title in Buenos Aires, had dropped another of the favorites on Wednesday, the German Alexander Zverev.
The final of the women’s tournament, in the WTA 1000 category, will be played on Saturday by the Polish Iga Swiatek, next number one in the world ranking, and the Japanese Naomi Osaka, winner of four Grand Slam titles.
