Australian Open: Early escape for Alcaraz as Spaniard survives big-hitting barrage to advance

MELBOURNE: Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz’s bid to complete a career Grand Slam faced early resistance on Wednesday at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old Spaniard trailed 1-3 in the 79-minute opening set after being broken in the fourth game, before steadily pulling his game together against the 34-year-old German Yannik Hanfmann, ranked 102.




The world No.1 closed out a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach the third round at Melbourne Park, a venue where he has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals.

In the 79-minute opener, Hanfmann pushed the world No.1 by pairing a strong baseline game with persistent forays into the net. The German saved two break points at 5-5 and later moved ahead 4-3 in the tie-break, before Alcaraz reeled off four straight points to seal the set.

Alcaraz maintained his level after the narrow escape, relentlessly stretching his lead. Hanfmann, meanwhile, continued to compete despite an oblique injury that required on-court treatment in the second and third sets, even if it was not evident in his shot-making.

“ I didn’t think I was playing that good, but then talking to my team, I realized that I played better than I thought (smiling), which I think is great,” he said. “But, obviously, I’m still getting used to the conditions, getting used to playing better. I just played against a great player today.”

He added, “Just happy that I'm improving every day after every match. So focussed on being better in the next round.”

“I think when you are on court you cannot see the right things sometimes. You're stuck in the negative thoughts,” he said. “ When you're watching the match from outside, everything is more clear. The feeling of how I felt on court, that's why I said that I didn't feel that good. Those comments with my team after the match helps me a lot in the next round.”

Next up for Alcaraz is Frenchman Corentin Moutet, the world no.37.

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev, the three-time Melbourne Park finalist, 2021, 22 and 24, rallied to put out Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-7 (9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on John Cain Arena on Wednesday.

In a first round doubles match, India’s Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson, seeded tenth, put out the Aussie combine of James Duckworth and Cruz Hewitt 6-3, 6-4.


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