Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Australian Open campaign with a decisive victory, defeating Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round. The young Spaniard, currently ranked world No. 3, is determined to secure his first Major title in Melbourne and achieve a Career Grand Slam by the age of 21. While Alcaraz dominated the first and third sets, he faced some challenges in the second, where he dropped serve twice and had to fight back to maintain control of the match.
Despite the brief struggles, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged the need for improvement as he prepares for his next match against Yoshihito Nishioka. During the off-season, Alcaraz revamped his service motion to make it more fluid and efficient. He is also focused on maintaining a positive mindset during challenging moments, understanding that difficult phases in a match are temporary. Overall, Alcaraz’s game against Shevchenko was solid, with the only hiccup occurring during the second set.
In terms of statistics, Alcaraz showcased his powerful play, hitting 38 winners against 26 unforced errors and converting eight of 19 break points. He started the match strongly with three consecutive breaks in the first set, quickly taking a 6-1 lead. Although Shevchenko fought back in the second set, taking a 5-3 lead at one point, Alcaraz regained his composure to pull ahead and ultimately secure the match after one hour and 27 minutes. Looking ahead, Alcaraz is aware of the challenges posed by Nishioka and is committed to enhancing his performance as the tournament progresses. “I want to play better in the next round,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of confidence in his shots and the ongoing adjustment to his new serve.
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