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Australian Max Purcell has been beaten by Carlos Alcaraz, but only after giving the world No.1 a fright in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals.

For a moment Max Purcell and his supporters dared to dream against world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Playing a scintillating brand of serve-and-volley tennis, with powerful serving and excellent net play, the Aussie battler threatened an upset that would have gone far beyond Ohio to turn heads across the tennis world.

But reality, and the young Spaniard's brilliance, intervened. And perhaps fatigue after a demanding fortnight for the 25-year-old Sydneysider.

Alcaraz eventually came through 4-6 6-3 6-4 to move into the Cincinnati Open semi-finals and a meeting with Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, who earlier on Friday had ended Alexei Popyrin's run to the last eight.

Playing his 10th match in 12 days, plus a demanding journey across the 49th parallel, the world No.70 looked beaten at 0-40 and 0-2 down in the final set.

But he held, then broke and held again, to be 3-2 up. He led again 4-3, but was broken and went 4-5 down. Even then he had a break point for 5-5, but a rare loose forehand let Alcaraz off the hook and the 20-year-old took full advantage ending the two-hour, 11-minute match with an ace.

The reigning US Open and Wimbledon champion knew he had been in a game.

"It was really tough," said Alcaraz. "It was tricky today. He served really well. I think he played well at the net, but I think I played well.

"I returned well on court and that was the key to getting the win today, to return very well and to focus."

Nevertheless, Purcell had much to encourage him as he looks towards what will be only his second appearance in the US Open main draw.

Making his performance in Ohio even more creditable the journey to the last eight had been anything but simple.

After reaching the last 32 in Toronto last week he had a dash to make qualifying in Cincinnati. With no direct flight he took an Uber to the Canadian-US border, but was left there as his driver would not cross it. Eventually he made it to Detroit, but could not get a drive to Cincinnati.

He finally got a flight, but arrived too late to practice ahead of qualifying.

Nevertheless, he won through two rounds of qualifying, then three in the main draw during which he put out world No.7 Casper Ruud and former grand slam champ Stan Wawrinka. There is much to build on.

Earlier Hurkacz beat Purcell's fellow Australian Popyrin 6-1 7-6 (10-8).

Popyrin lost to Purcell in qualifying, but was restored to the draw as a 'lucky loser'. He capitalised on his fortune to make the quarters but a slow start against the Pole left him chasing the match after losing the first set in 25 minutes.

"Alexei raised his level and was serving really good throughout that second set, I just got to the tiebreaker," Hurkacz said.

"I got off to a good start and then Alexei played some good points, but fortunately I battled through for that one."

Despite their exits, Popyrin and Purcell will both climb to new career-high rankings in the top 50 on Monday.

In late action, Novak Djokovic demolished top American Taylor Fritz 6-0 6-4.

Second seed Djokovic converted all five break-point opportunities to flummox Fritz in a clinical performance, sending over 13 winners while making few mistakes.

The 23-times major winner next faces German No.16 seed Alexander Zverev, who comfortably beat France's Adrian Mannarino 6-2 6-3.