The 22-year-old Spaniard made a blistering start, winning 13 of the first 14 points and wrapping up the opening set in just 27 minutes. The match began later than scheduled due to a rain delay earlier in the day, but Alcaraz wasted no time asserting control.

The second set presented a sterner challenge, with Alcaraz trailing 2-4 before producing a four-game surge to seal victory in 80 minutes. A key turning point came at 4-4 in an eight-deuce game, where Nardi double-faulted on consecutive points, handing Alcaraz the chance to serve out the match.

Seeded to potentially meet World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final for the fourth consecutive tournament, Alcaraz will next face ninth seed Andrey Rublev. The Russian booked his place in the last eight by defeating Francisco Comesana 6-2, 6-3, avenging his shock first-round exit to the Argentine at Wimbledon last year. Rublev’s dominant serving and aggressive play saw him through in just 64 minutes.

A 21-time tour-level champion, Alcaraz is chasing his first title in Cincinnati. He came agonisingly close last year, holding championship point before Novak Djokovic staged a comeback to claim the trophy. This year, Alcaraz will be hoping to go one step further and lift the crown.