World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz faced the home star Alexei Popyrin in the pre-Australian Open test. The Spaniard defeated the Aussie 6-3, 6-4, bouncing back from the Alex de Minaur loss.
The four-time Major winner secured two breaks in the opening set. He grabbed another return game early in the second set before losing the advantage in game seven. Popyrin locked the result at 4-4 and earned three break chances in a marathon game nine.
Alcaraz denied them and held after 14 minutes before sealing the deal with a break in game ten, bringing the victory home.
Alexei closed the opening game of the duel with a service winner and welcomed the rival's forehand error two games later for 2-1. The Aussie extended the fourth game with a backhand winner before the Spaniard closed it with a smash winner for 2-2.
Alcaraz stepped in on the return in the fifth game and seized a break chance after the rival's loose drop shot, forging a 3-2 advantage. Did it give world no. 3 a boost? Certainly! He held at love for 4-2 and closed the eighth game with a crafty winner at the net for 5-3.
Carlos stepped in on the return in the ninth game and landed a return winner for another break and 6-3 in 40 minutes. Felling the ball in those moments, Alcaraz provided another break in the second game of the second set with a backhand winner.
The Spaniard fired a forehand winner in the third game, rattling off five games and moving closer to the finish line. World no. 3 landed a service winner in the fifth game for a 4-1 lead, controlling the scoreboard and outplaying his rival.
Popyrin made a push on the return in the seventh game and pulled the break back, returning to the positive side. The Aussie extended the ninth game and turned it to a marathon! Alcaraz played against three break points, defending them and avoiding another setback.
World no. 3 wrapped up the game after 14 minutes and opened a 5-4 lead. It gave him a boost and confidence to step in on the return in game ten. Carlos created a match point, and Alexei played a loose drop shot to propel his rival over the top.
