In his 201st tour-level match, Carlos Alcaraz faced a younger opponent for the first time and was in a brutal mood at Rod Laver Arena to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time. On Saturday at the Australian Open, Alcaraz set a precedent when he defeated Chinese star Shang Juncheng 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 before the 18-year-old retired due to injury.
Alcaraz expressed his feelings after the match and said: “I’m feeling great. Probably a seven or eight [out of 10]. It’s a high note. But that’s how I feel. I think I’m improving every day. Every match that I play, I feel better and better. Moving, hitting the ball, and, of course, I’m getting used to this court as well.”
He further added: “I didn’t play so much on this court. I think everything is good. I am taking good things from the court, from the level that I’m playing. Hopefully, it’s going to be better and better.”
Alcaraz at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2024
Now ranked no.2, the Spaniard has achieved an overall 3-0 win-loss record in 2024. Alcaraz is now having a run at the Australian Open where he ousted the world no.131 Richard Gasquet 7-65 6-1 6-2, the world no.46 Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-73 6-3 7-63 and the world no.140 Juncheng Shang 6-1 6-1 1-0 ret..
Carlos Alcaraz will square off with the world no.60 Miomir Kecmanovic in the 4th round. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Alcaraz.
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)
Carlos Alcaraz |
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