destroyed Alexander Shevchenko (no. 77) at the premiere, gave a historic beating to Yoshihito Nishioka (no. 65) in the second round, in just one hour and 21 minutes, a record time in the record of Carlos Alcaraz, who even surpassed himself in the third round by beating no. 33, the Portuguese Nuno Borges27 years old, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3) and 6-2 in 2h.55′.
Let no one be alarmed by the loss of the third set, as the match lasted almost three hours. An accident that was in the Grand Slam manual. Carlos Alcaraz, 21 years old and No. 3, he stroked the pass already in the third set, which would have been a TKO. It didn’t happen, he found a problem along the way, he solved it. The lesson he gave on his return to the Melbourne Park headquarters, in the main stadium, the Rod Laver Arena, was valuable. He met an experienced rival, who likes this event, where he made the second round in the previous edition, who he liked and who gave a few more minutes of gold to the Murcian.
Alcaraz will be satisfied, who would undoubtedly demand more in a tiebreak in which he lacked the extra quality that he was giving until then and that he recovered later. Also Juan Carlos Ferrero before a complete version of the Murcian. Not a single mistake when everything was going smoothly and when faced with the obstacle that was presented to him. Brilliant, as usual, in exceptional points. But at the same time solid. Since that serve he has introduced a higher ball throw and a more direct hit to a forehand that flew.
He kept the serve safe the entire match. A single break point against him, which was also a set, but he lifted to reach the tiebreak. On Sunday, round of 16 against the survivor of the crash between the British Jack Draper and the Australian Aleksandar Vukic.
You have no cause for concern. If he doesn’t disconnect, the danger that hangs over him in each match due to his tendency to slump occasionally, tennis is sharp. He would have signed the victory in three sets, but he acquired a positive attitude for what is to come. It is his first official tournament, finding resistance was another step to take in this event.
-Alcaraz deployed his entire manual, he raised the audience with both the drop shot and the lob, the volley and the baseline winners. He even lunged for a ball on the hard surface of the court. ‘Showtime’. Borges who played very well for his level, being no less than 33 in the world. He never stopped looking for an opportunity that he found at his most brilliant moment.
The Portuguese’s response helped the festival, increased the merit of a Alcaraz settled. Fought Borgesthe challenge pleased Carlos, who faced it with confidence and success. Good feelings. With this ‘great game’ you grow physically and mentally. His immediate response in the fourth set indicates this. It reinforces the commitment to the Grand Slam with which he would complete his record after two Wimbledons, a Roland Garros and a US Open. And he would be the youngest in history to do the plenary session.
The third set can be considered an accident inherent to what a Grand Slam demands from start to finish. It was not the Nuno Borges of the Godó of 2023with Alcaraz 6-3 and 6-1. He gave more, but he didn’t dislodge the Murcian. I was ready for it.
