Carlos Alcaraz is making a run at Melbourne Park for the first time in his career. If his level on Monday night is any indication, he just might go all the way.
Alcaraz needed only one hour and 49 minutes to crush Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-0, wrapping up the Australian Open fourth-round schedule in style. The second-ranked Spaniard more than doubled his unforced error count (19) with winners (43), fired five aces without double-faulting, and did not face a single break point.
Kecmanovic played well for two sets but offered little resistance in the third set amidst the Alcaraz onslaught. The 60th-ranked Serb was coming off back-to-back five-setters against Jan-Lennard Struff and Tommy Paul.
“I think everything,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview when asked what was working. “I did everything perfectly. I think today it was a pretty good match, but I pushed him to the limit in every point. Obviously he has played a lot of tough matches in five sets, so physically he was not at his 100 percent.
“I’m feeling better and better every day. Every match that I’ve been playing here in Rod Laver Arena, I’ve been feeling more comfortable. It’s a pleasure to play here. Thankfully I’m showing my best level.”
Next up for Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Wednesday is Alexander Zverev, who beat Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) after four hours and five minutes. It was the second fifth-set tiebreaker of the fortnight for Zverev, who had previously battled past Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein in a second-round thriller.
Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz also advanced to the quarters. Medvedev held off Nuno Borges in four sets; Hurkacz took care of French wild card Arthur Cazaux in straights.
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