Alcaraz ends Purcell's dream Cincinnati run, Djokovic crushes Fritz

:World number one Carlos Alcaraz ended Australian qualifier Max Purcell's dream run with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals on Friday, while Novak Djokovic demolished top American Taylor Fritz 6-0 6-4.

The 70th-ranked Purcell has produced some of the best tennis of his career recently and at the U.S. Open tune-up event he took down French Open finalist Casper Ruud and three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

But Alcaraz's superb form was too much to overcome as the twice Grand Slam winner kept his cool after a frustrating opening set, unleashing 30 winners in the match on Centre Court.

"He (impressed) me a lot. His game is pretty good. Serve really well. Volley pretty well, as well. It was really tough for me," Alcaraz told reporters.

The Spaniard failed to convert his only break point chance of the first set in the second game before helping Purcell to the crucial break in the seventh game with an unforced error.

Purcell sealed the first set with an unreturnable serve but the 20-year-old Spaniard sent a quick reminder of why he is the world's best as he won the first three games of a speedy second set, where he dropped only two of his first-serve points.

Down a break in the third, Purcell refused to go down without a fight, fending off four break points in an epic third game before neutralising Alcaraz's mighty forehand to break back in the fourth.

But the Wimbledon champion kept his composure and broke Purcell to love in the ninth game before sealing the affair in the next game with an ace and a smile.

"I feel like I'm playing well. Obviously not my best. I can increase my level, of course," said Alcaraz.

"But I feel the opponents, when they are playing against me, I'm going to say,