The Australian public has a great time with Carlos Alcaraz (20), who gives smiles and magic in equal parts on the Rod Laver Arena. He sings the Village People's YMCA to the stands and the Murcian bursts out laughing, unable to refrain from the festive atmosphere of Melbourne even in the middle of the third round match of the Australian Open. Already at that time, he was advancing steadily towards the round of 16 against an inferior and physically weakened rival, who had requested medical help, giving rise to people finding other ways to entertain themselves, such as singing.
The match against the very young Shang Juncheng ended up being a respite for Alcaraz, a mysterious rival with whom he had never met before and who forced him to resort to videos in order to analyze his game. After 201 matches in the elite, the Murcian also faced an opponent younger than him for the first time, an added motivation to continue scratching history in his most elusive Grand Slam, in which for the first time he will reach the second week of competition.
Everything ended up being resolved after 1h6m of play when the Chinese, 18 years old and also reaching new goals in Melbourne, decided to abandon. The scoreboard reflected a resounding 6-1, 6-1 and 1-0, the result of Alcaraz's indisputable superiority on the court. Shang had appeared at the game with his right thigh bandaged, already suggesting that his physical condition was not the best. He had accumulated nine sets in two matches and his legs finally said enough.
Oblivious to everything, Alcaraz did not give up at any time and was stringing winning blows from the back of the court one after another to cement that superiority on the scoreboard. He combined it all with his usual smiling face, so that no one would doubt that he not only wins, he also enjoys tennis like a little child. “I notice that I am improving day by day, I am feeling more and more comfortable on this track,” he congratulated himself, satisfied after the victory.
Alcaraz has reached at least the round of 16 in his last seven appearances at a Grand Slam tournament and surpasses the record held by legend Bjon Borg since 1977.
The next challenge for the Murcian will be Martin Kecmanovic (24), executioner of Tommy Paul in five sets after saving up to two match points. Alcaraz has only met the Serbian once; He was in the Miami quarterfinals two years ago and took the victory.
