Carlos Alcaraz competed at the prestigious Les Petits As U14 event in 2017, losing in the third round to Toby Kodat. Eight years later, Carlos' young brother Jaime entered the qualifying draw of the most prominent U14 tournament and scored a win.
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The 13-year-old faced Erikas Balkunas in the first round and scored a 6-3, 6-2 victory after a rock-solid display. The youngest Alcaraz labels Casper Ruud as his idol. However, he draws an inspiration from his famous brother, hitting like Carlos and doing a fine job in his age group.
The Spaniard faced deuces in the first game of the match but landed a forehand down the line winner to bring it home. Balkunas generated a break chance in the third game, and Alcaraz denied it with a powerful serve. He saved another with a service winner and held for 2-1.
The Lithuanian held for 2-2 and landed a lob winner in the next one to extend the game. Jaime missed a routine forehand and experienced a break point. He denied it with a forehand winner and repeated that on the second break chance.
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The Spaniard held after a forced error, struggling but keeping his serve intact. Alcaraz stepped in on the return in the sixth game and grabbed a break at love following the rival's double fault, opening a 4-2 advantage. Erikas kept his composure.
He pulled the break back in the seventh game, pulling the break back and reducing the gap to 4-3. Jaime made a push on the return in game eight and cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break at love and a 5-3 lead.
Balkunas created a break chance in the ninthgame, and Alcaraz saved it with an ace. The Spaniard converted a set point after the Lithuanian's poor volley, moving 6-3 in front and gaining a boost. Jaime cracked a forehand down the line return winner in the first game of the second set for a break at love.
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Alcaraz saved three break points in the second game and closed it with a service winner for a 2-0 lead. The Spaniard brought the fourth game home with a volley winner, opening a 3-1 advantage and controlling the scoreboard.
Jaime hit a double fault in the sixth game and faced a break point. Balkunas sprayed a forehand error and missed a chance to return to the positive side. Alcaraz held and forged a 4-2 lead, making another step toward the top.
Erikas played a loose service game and netted a backhand to fall 5-2 behind and allow Jaime serve for the win. The Spaniard generated a match point with a forced error and converted it to move into the second qualifying round.
Alcaraz faced Filip Sebek and experienced a tight 7-5, 7-6 loss, failing to reach the main draw.
