Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the second consecutive year for the round of 16 of the Australian Open. The Murcian, knowing that glory is decided on the great racket stages, has given another hit on the table against Nuno Borges (6-2, 6-4, 6-7 and 6-2) and he did it at the Rod Laver Arena. After two days relegated to Margaret Court, the second most important court in Melbourne Park, Alcaraz had a good baptism this Friday at the plant where he dreams of completing the circle on January 26. At the moment, he is the fourth in the Open Era to have 10 matches won in the majors before turning 22. The other three are Mats Wilander, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil has become the thirteenth Spaniard, within the Open Era (1968), capable of repeating his presence in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Before him they achieved it Carlos Moyá (2), Félix Mantilla (2), Feliciano López (2), Albert Costa (2), Fernando Verdasco (3), Juan Carlos Ferrero (3), Pablo Carreño (3), Nicolás Almagro (4), Tommy Robredo (5), Roberto Bautista (5), David Ferrer (9) and Rafael Nadal (15).
Carlitos, who had surpassed Borges in the only precedent between the two in Barcelona, in 2023, He started subtracting, as he likes. And he achieved a ‘break’ at the start that laid out a red carpet for him to display his best tennis.
Borges shows his disappointment.JOEL CARRETT
Borges has improved a lot. The Portuguese is 33rd in the ranking and last season he premiered his record in Bastad. However, he cannot withstand the ball weight of the young man from El Palmar from the white line. Two breaks helped Alcaraz close the first set.
The second set was more even, which also fell to the side of the champion of four majors. In the third he had to save two break balls in the second game. It was a declaration of intent from his adversary.
-Carlitos. at the moment of diving for the ball.
Carlitos did Becker’s in the seventh game, diving for an impossible ball into the net. He put his physique at risk, but he always goes for it. It is his way of understanding the sport.
A set point saved
Borges enjoyed an option to close the gap on the scoreboard, with 6-5 and 30-40. He threw a backhand return straight out. The outcome was sudden death and Nuno had his reward. He had done everything he could do against a superior Alcaraz. “I’ve missed the Rod Laver Arena, especially because the last time I lost here. If I win in Australia I will get a kangaroo tattoo“, declared the winner, he left 54 winning shots for the statistics compared to his victim’s 15.
The Murcian has already done his homework and is waiting to meet his next opponent who will emerge from the winner of the match between the Australian Aleksandar Vukic and the British Jack Draper. The key to its success: the Spanish restaurant Cambio de Tercio: “I eat there every day and it gives me energy“.
