Carlos Alcaraz has expressed delight at making it to the second week of the 2024 Australian Open for the primary time in his profession.
Alcaraz pulled out of the Melbourne Main in 2023 as he had not recovered from the stomach damage he picked up on the Paris Masters. This 12 months, he has barely put a foot improper on the match.
The Spaniard started his marketing campaign with a snug straight-sets win towards Richard Gasquet and adopted it with a four-set defeat of Lorenzo Sonego. Within the third spherical, Alcaraz confronted Juncheng Shang and received the primary units earlier than the 18-year-old retired because of damage.
In his on-court interview after the competition, Alcaraz acknowledged his pleasure at competing in Melbourne this 12 months after being compelled to overlook the occasion in 2023.
“Yeah, absolutely [feels good to be in the second week of the Australian Open]. I missed this one last year. I was watching the matches from home, from the couch, wishing to play in the second week here,” he stated.
Having bettered his finest file Down Beneath — a third-round end in 2022 — Alcaraz is hoping to maintain taking part in effectively and go deeper into the match.
“This is the first time that I moved to the second week here in Australia. It feels special. I watched this tournament every year. Coming to the tournament this year thinking of improving the result that I did in 2022 and I did it. Now it’s time to keep going, to play better and better, and hopefully still moving rounds,” he added.
Carlos Alcaraz: “I’m glad finally I played against a younger player”
Carlos Alcaraz’s conflict with Juncheng Shang was the primary time the World No. 2 has confronted somebody youthful than him on the ATP tour.
Shang has impressed on the Australian Open. He beat American Mackenzie McDonald in 5 units within the opening spherical earlier than preventing from a set all the way down to beat Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal.
Alcaraz wished Shang a speedy restoration and stated that he was glad to lastly play somebody youthful than him, even when the match didn’t conclude as they’d have hoped.
“This is not the way that anybody wants to move on. First of all, I want to wish him a speedy recovery. He’s an amazing player. He started here [at the Australian Open] unbelievably, playing great games and I was looking forward to playing this match,” he stated.
“Tennis is growing and more young players are coming up. So I think it’s great for tennis and the people as well, watching young players playing this stage. So I’m glad finally I played against a younger player,” the Spaniard added.
With a spot within the quarterfinals on the road, Alcaraz will subsequent face Miomir Kecmanovic.
