Alcaraz beats the Japanese Daniel and advances to the third round: the double “Gran Willy” that amazes Roland Garros

On the central field Roland Garros the show was secured with the presence of world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz. But in case it was necessary to confirm it, the Spaniard and his rival, the Japanese Taro Daniel (110th), scored a magical point in the third set of the match.

The duel was 6-1, 3-6, 5-0 and 15-30 for Alcaraz and the service, in the hands of Daniel. The period seemed long when Spanish used the great Willy, which seemed to spell the end in his favor. However, the Japanese responded with the same resource, which aroused the screams of the spectators who filled the stands of the stadium where Novak Djokovic will play later.

Well planted for that comeback, the Murciano had no problem closing the point in his favor with a short touch that his rival didn’t reach. Finally he was also left with the set 6-1, which led him to victory in the second round of the Parisian Grand Slam after winning the fourth set 6-2.

With consistency and some gaps, Alcaraz advanced to Paris

In his first duel to Philippe Chatrier, Carlos Alcaraz showed some shortcomingswhich cost him the second set, but raised the bar just enough to disable Taro Daniel, a tough tennis player but unable to reach him when the 20-year-old phenomenon hit the ball.

Like Suzanne Lenglen on Tuesday, the Spaniard went crazy, without the need for preliminary exchanges to assess the situation. Sticks from the start against a Daniel unable to keep up with the pace.

As against Flavio Cobolli, he opened the way with a 3-0 lead in 11 minutes. But this time it took him another five (31) to seal the first set, in which Daniel managed to take a game, while the Italian had taken a bagel.

With sunshine and good gusts of wind, Daniel gradually adapted to the storm and took the initiative in the second set against an Alcaraz who was losing his freshness, less enthusiastic and forthright in his shots. The Japanese broke serve for the first time to make it 3-0, a ‘break’ which he successfully defended to score the second set.

It didn’t take long for the 20-year-old to regain his initiative. But unlike the brilliance of the first set, he has now opted for consistency, focused on reducing errors, a recipe that was enough for him to sweep away the third set and win the fourth, which started with an exchange of breaks.

“He’s a very tough player and it was very difficult because of the wind, you have to adapt your game. I was focused on every shot, so I am very happy with the level I gave taking into account the wind“, analyzed Alcaraz on the rink after the match.

In the next round, the best player of the moment will face the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (31st), who beat the Italian Matteo Arnaldi (105th) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in two hours and 25 minutes.

Alcaraz has come to this tournament knowing he will keep the number 1 ranking by winning the trophy that Rafael Nadal, winner of 14 occasions, will be unable to defend. The quick elimination of Daniil Medvedev has paved the way for him in which his greatest rival seems to be the ever-candidate Djokovic.