Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start at his most important tournament of the season. The young Spaniard chases the missing Major crown in Melbourne, trying to conquer the Australian Open and achieve a Career Grand Slam at 21!
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Alcaraz defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 in the opening match. World no. 3overpowered his rival in sets one and three while struggling a bit in the second, losing serve two times in arow and chasing the result.
The Spaniard felt good about his game but seeksfurther improvements ahead of his next duel against Yoshihito Nishioka. The young gun changed his service motion during the off-season, making it more fluid and efficient.
Carlos is also working on keeping positive vibes in the moments when he struggles, knowing the bad period will eventuallyfade away. There was nothing wrong with Alcaraz's game against Shevchenko except that one troubled period.
He dropped serve two times and turned over half of the return points into eight breaks from 19 opportunities. The young gun fired 38 winners and 26 unforced errors, outplaying the Kazakh in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.
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The favorite was off to a flying start, notching three straight breaks in the first set for 6-1 in no time. Alexander missed a break chance in the second game and lost the ground. He missed a backhand in the third game and experienced a break at love.
Carlos grabbed another break in the fifth game to extend the lead and wrapped up the opener with a forehand crosscourt winner at 5-1. Shevchenko erased a break deficit in the second set and used Alcaraz's poor run to forge a 5-3 advantage.
The Kazakh reduced the gap with his first break in game fiveand locked the result at 3-3 on his serve. The Spaniard played another loose service game, missing a forehand and falling behind. Carlos launched his comeback in the ninth game.
He held at love and stepped in on the return in the next one. The four-time Major winner fired a forehand winner and generated two break points. He seized the second and pulled the break back at the last moment.
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Alexander never earned another chance to extend the setand his chances. The lower-ranked player missed a backhand in the 12th game to drop serve and send his opponents two sets to love in front after an hour and 27 minutes.
The Spaniard gained a boost and dominated the third set. Alcaraz clinched a break with a backhand down the line return winner at 2-1 to secure a break. He cracked another backhand return winner two games later, providing a break and opening a 5-1 lead.
Carlos served for the win in game seven and missed four match points. World no. 3 landed a powerful serve on the third, moving over the top and starting the title chase.
"I presented a good level. It was my first match of the season, and anything could happen. I was confident it would go well, but I want to play better in the next round. I trailed in the second set and tried to keep my composure and regain rhythm.
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I'm working on it. I have to avoid upsets and wait until I regain my shots. Implementing my new serve on the practice court is more comfortable than during matches. I will make it more natural over time.
I got rid of the pause during my service motion, and the changes should improve my game. Yoshihito Nishioka is a formidable opponent. I have to focus on my tennis and produce a high level with more confidence in my shots," Carlos Alcaraz said.
