Carlos Alcaraz delivered an ominous show of power in his first Australian Open match on Tuesday, dominating French veteran Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-2.
The second seed, aiming to dethrone 10-time champion Novak Djokovic from the world primary spot, confronted a tricky first set however then shifted into increased gear.
Alcaraz expressed his satisfaction with returning to Melbourne, the place he hadn’t superior past the third spherical in his earlier two visits. “In the first set, I struggled a little with his game,” he mentioned. “He was playing great, but I played better and better, and in the end, I reached quite a good level.”
The Spaniard acknowledged that he typically makes an attempt “impossible shots,” together with volleys and drop pictures, to entertain his followers.
Wearing a sleeveless yellow T-shirt, the two-time Grand Slam winner missed 9 break-point alternatives within the first set however confronted little bother on his personal serve.
The tie-break was carefully contested, however in his first match of the season, Alcaraz capitalized on his first set level, hitting a forehand winner on the web.
The Wimbledon champion, absent from final 12 months’s Australian Open resulting from harm, swiftly took the second set in half-hour, breaking Gasquet’s serve twice and showcasing his full vary of shot-making.
The third set adopted the same sample, with 37-year-old Gasquet displaying occasional glimpses of his uncommon expertise however being outmaneuvered by a person 17 years his junior.
Alcaraz confronted a short delay when serving for the match however secured victory with an ace, expressing gratitude to the packed crowd at a full of life Rod Laver Arena.
Next up, he’ll compete towards Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
