The Spanish Carlos Alcaraznumber two in the world, he reconciled this Monday with his best version to overcome the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the fourth round of Australian Open6-4, 6-4 and 6-0 in just an hour and 49 minutes, and will face the Germans Alexander Zverev (6) in one of the highlights of the quarter-finals. The Germans got rid of the English Cameron Norrie (19th) with a very tight 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 and 7-6 (3), after a marathon of four hours and five minutes of action.
Alcaraz’s overwhelming victory is a declaration of war Novak Djokovic (1st), who had just reached the round of 16 with a crushing victory over the Frenchman Adriano Mannarino, who was allowed to win only three games in an unequal duel. The Serbian is the main candidate to win the first Grand Slam of the season thanks to sensational victories that amplify his legendary status.
Another one who advances in Melbourne is the Russian Daniel Medvedev (3rd), who this time avoided the fifth set and defeated the surprising Portuguese Nuno Borges by 6-3, 7-6(4), 5-7 and 6-1, which allow him to support his ambitious dream of reaching number 1 in the world ranking. Of course, it’s not an easy life for the Muscovite, given that he not only has to retain the title, but he has to light the candles so that Djokovic and Alcaraz, both with a fabulous pace, stumble before the semi-final.
“The third set was very physically tough. He started hitting every shot of mine that wasn’t that deep with all his strength. After the third, my only shot was that there wasn’t a fifth,” he commented after wasting a 5-2 in the third chapter which ended in favor of the Portuguese.
The Muscovite held up well physically despite the stresses of his last match against Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori, which lasted until 3.40am in the Australian morning, and got his ticket to the quarter-finals for the third time in a Slam in which he fell two occasions on the doorstep of the title.
Medvedev lost the 2020 and 2022 finals against Djokovic and the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from the tournament due to a premature tear suffered at the ATP in Brisbane, where he had completed his return to the professional circuit after a long inactivity of 347 days . .
The Russian finished the match with 13 aces and 11 double faults, as well as 34 unforced errors in contrast to the Portuguese’s 66. Borges, however, scored the best Grand Slam of his career at 26 years old, after leaving tennis players of Spanish caliber to reach the round of 16. Alexander Davidovich (23rd) and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (13).
Medvedev’s next rival will be the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (9th), which concluded the adventure of the revelation of the competition, the French guest Arthur Cazauxwho finished the match with 18 aces.
The Pole, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time in his career greater oceanic, he beat the Frenchman with a tight 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) and 6-4, in a clash played at the John Cain Arena and which lasted two hours and 28 minutes.
Hurkacz and Medvedev face each other 3-2 in favor of the Pole and a new round will be played on Wednesday at Melbourne Park.
Source: EFE
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.