Post by : Badri Ariffin

Carlos Alcaraz secured a third-round win at the Australian Open, yet he conceded that Frenchman Corentin Moutet outshone him in the drop-shot department.

The world’s top player claimed a convincing 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena, advancing to the fourth round as he continues his quest for a career Grand Slam. The match showcased a delightful array of creativity, with both players engaging in crowd-pleasing exchanges.

Moutet, recognized for his left-handed flair, captivated the audience with a myriad of shots—drop shots, lobs, tweeners, and even an underarm serve—keeping Alcaraz on his toes throughout.

“Playing against someone like Corentin is always unpredictable,” Alcaraz remarked after the match. “It was a blast; we both had our moments.”

Alcaraz, who is renowned for his drop shots, humorously noted that he met his match in that aspect today.

“I thought it turned into a drop-shot contest,” he quipped, laughing. “He took the trophy.”

Despite feeling exhausted chasing down Moutet's shots late in the first set, Alcaraz countered with his own stunning plays, including exquisite volleys and tweeners, securing his grip on the match.

Moutet briefly sparked hopes of a comeback by winning four consecutive games in the second set, but Alcaraz quickly regained his focus and maintained his edge.

The crowd’s reaction was warm this time around, contrasting with his earlier booing for an underarm serve; Moutet received applause following a stylish point at the net.

Alcaraz is set to face the 19th-seeded Tommy Paul next, who progressed after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired due to injury while trailing 6-1, 6-1.

Sabalenka and Gauff Prevail in Tough Encounters

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and third seed Coco Gauff both faced fierce competition in their journey to the fourth round.

Sabalenka triumphed over Anastasia Potapova in a nail-biting 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) match, admitting it was a struggle to stay in sync.

“I felt like my mind, hands, and racket were disconnected at times,” Sabalenka disclosed. “She played unbelievably well; it was truly a battle.”

The defending champion faced three set points before sealing the first set in a tiebreak. In the second, Potapova pushed her to the limit again with three set points, but Sabalenka maintained her composure.

Chasing her third title in four years, Sabalenka will next go up against young Canadian Victoria Mboko, who earned a victory over 14th seed Clara Tauson with a score of 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3.

Coco Gauff also made a remarkable comeback after losing the first set against Hailey Baptiste, ultimately winning 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 after tightening her gameplay.

Young Stars Shine as Medvedev Readies for Rematch

Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic stirred excitement by defeating seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 7-6 (3). After being broken twice while serving for the match, Jovic resolved to play aggressively.

She will be facing Yulia Putintseva next, who triumphed over Zeynep Sonmez in a hard-fought match with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3.

In the meantime, Daniil Medvedev showcased his tenacity, coming back from two sets down to defeat Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3, marking the fifth instance of such a comeback in his Grand Slam career.

“I was frustrated early on,” Medvedev acknowledged. “In the third set, I refocused on my game plan.”

The former US Open champion is now set for a rematch with American Learner Tien, who upset him in a thrilling five-setter at the last year’s Australian Open and advanced once again with a 7-6 (9), 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nuno Borges.

#Global News #Sports News