Carlos Alcaraz (2) has returned to the courts three months after his abdominal injury, and has done so with a 6-2, 4-6 and 6-2 victory against the Serbian Laslo Djere (57) in the round of 16 of the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires. The Spaniard, who is already in the quarterfinals, beat his rival in two hours on a packed Court Guillermo Vilas of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
The tennis player from Murcia was injured on November 4, 2022 in the quarterfinal match in Paris-Bercy against the Danish Holger Rune, and a new physical setback, this time in the semimembranosus muscle of his right leg, took away his possibility of playing the Australian Open. 103 days later Alcaraz has smiled again, and is already closer to qualifying for the second consecutive year for the ATP Finals in Turin.
After the match, Carlos Alcaraz assured that he still has a lot of room to improve, but that he felt good on the court. “The return to competition is not easy. I go to every tournament with the goal of winning it. My first game of the year after four years has been a great game but far from my usual level", he declared. The Spaniard also took the opportunity to thank the public for their affection. "The truth is that for me it is a pleasure to be in Argentina. I expected love but not so much and I felt at home. It is appreciated and it has helped me a lot to have this environment”.
In addition to the return of the Murcian, the public also applauded the presence of Gabriela Sabatini, Argentine tennis legend, who witnessed the match and received a standing ovation. Alcaraz himself also surrendered to the tennis player. "Playing against legends like Gabriela Sabatini is a source of pride."
The Spaniard will play his next match next Friday against Serbian Dusan Lajovic, world number 90. Alcaraz will meet again with Lajovic, whom he beat 6-2, 6-1 and 7-5 in the second round of the 2022 Australian Open.
The other two Spanish tennis players who continue in the tournament are Jaume Munar and Bernabé Zapata after the defeat of Roberto Carballés against the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry by 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2. Munar will face Francisco Cerúndolo this Thursday, while Zapata will play against Diego Schwartzman.
