Carlos Alcaraz was a cyclone in the Parisian night. Just stepping on the track activated fan mode and he was racking up winners. The ball ran like a Formula 1 and his rival, a troubled Denis Shapovalov, either did not reply or added errors. Hunger combined with the desire to eat. The Canadian had no patience and the Murcian had a lot of science. Except for a phase in the second set, there was no color and Alcaraz won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours, 9 minutes. In the round of 16, on Sunday, a fitter opponent awaits him in the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
In a seen and unseen 5-0 entry. A plane flew over Roland Garros and devoured the first set as he likes. Chaining point after point. Non stop. In panoramic format.
But sometimes, where they give, they take, and Shapovalov, a streaky tennis player due to his style of play, adjusted his aim and amassed a good handful of points at full speed and full power. For a little while the Murcian withdrew into his barracks and also made a few more mistakes than necessary. As a result 4-1 for Shapovalov and threat of balance on the scoreboard.
Alcaraz, who did not want the same thing to happen to him as against Taro Daniel, when he lost the second set, reacted immediately, regained concentration and benefited from another drop in Shapovalov's successes. Five games in a row and the set in the bag (6-4).
Panorama on track because the Murcian showed himself to be much superior against an opponent who lived a nightmare with double faults and who has only won nine games in 2023. There was no more history.
