Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2, marked his return to competitive tennis with a first-round victory over Richard Gasquet at the 2024 Australian Open. Playing his first match of the season after a two-month hiatus, Alcaraz admitted to the challenges of reacquainting himself with competition.
In an interview with Eurosport’s Barbara Schett, Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulty of starting a tournament after an extended break, saying, “I need to get used to the competition again. The first set was difficult for me, but every set I played better and better until the last set, and I ended the match playing at a good level.”
The match saw a tightly contested first set, with the tie-breaker reaching 5-5 before Alcaraz secured the crucial break. Reflecting on his penchant for spectacular shot-making, he shared, “I always try to make the people enjoy watching tennis and watching my game. I try to make the impossible for the crowd.”
Expressing his commitment to bringing joy to spectators, Alcaraz emphasized the role of his team in helping him navigate challenging moments on the court. “The key of my game is why I’m playing good tennis,” he added.
Nick Kyrgios, providing commentary for Eurosport, praised Alcaraz’s electrifying performance and expressed his eagerness to face the young Spanish star in the future. “Carlos was electric as always. Hopefully when I get back, I can have a shot at him because he looks pretty fun to play against,” remarked Kyrgios.
Commenting on Alcaraz’s potential second-round opponent, Lorenzo Sonego, Kyrgios highlighted the Italian’s competitiveness and suggested that Alcaraz needs to “tidy up” his game for the upcoming match. “Sonego had a great last year, and he’s starting to find his stride. Alcaraz is going to have to clean it up a little bit because Sonego will make him pay, that’s for sure.”
As Alcaraz advances to face Sonego in the next round, the tennis world eagerly awaits the young talent’s continued journey in the Australian Open, with the prospect of a future clash against the charismatic Nick Kyrgios adding an extra layer of anticipation to the tournament.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Now the world no.470, the Australian played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he lost to world no.119 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
At the moment, during this season Kyrgios owns a 0-1 record.
Alcaraz at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2024
WLLWLWWWWW Now ranked no.2, Alcaraz has a composed 1-0 match record in 2024. The Spaniard is now having a run at the Australian Open where he overcame the world no.131 Richard Gasquet 7-65 6-1 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz will come up against the world no.46 Lorenzo Sonego in the 2nd round. Their record is 1-0 for Sonego.
The Spaniard won 13 titles in his career: 3 on hard courts, 7 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz have never squared off.
