On a small track, like any he has encountered during his short career in the ITF and Challengers tournaments, Carlos Alcaraz began his Grand Slams story at just 17 years old. He did it this Tuesday at the Australian Open and in what way. Although his rival, the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp (25 years and 159th in the world), it was not to shoot rockets, it has merit that he from Murcia dispatched him in three sets and less than two hours (1h: 54) as if nothing: 6-1, 6-4 and 6-4. “Not too bad”, as Djokovic would say for a boy who later confessed that he had woken up “nervous”. In 2003, Rafa Nadal, with whom he trained in the days leading up to the tournament, made his debut at Wimbledon at the same age and beat Mario Ancic, then 68th in the ranking, in four sets. He then fell in the third round against a Thai, Paradorn Srichapan (11th), after beating Britain’s Lee Childs (489th) in the second. Carlos’ next rival will come out of the duel between the Swede Mikael Ymer and the Pole Hubert Hurkacz.
Alcaraz’s start of the game was one of those that impress, with a 5-0 start and the first set closed in 21 minutes. He only lost three points on his serves, added two breaks and made no more than three unforced errors. Better not to start and that gave him a lot of peace of mind. If you had nerves, they were sure to disappear with that show of strength and determination. The second sleeve solved it with a little more profession, although it sounds strange being such a young boy, but it was. He scored a break, Van de Zandschulp recovered it and immediately afterwards, Carlitos stole his wallet again.
The third round was the most contested and in which it cost Alcaraz the most to find the weaknesses of his opponent’s game, a tennis player who, like him, came from the previous Doha, without great virtues beyond a decent service. He knew how to wait his moment, save his services and break to get to 5-4 and serve. He celebrated it with a certain euphoria, it was no wonder. A path opens before him that can be very beautiful and successful, and which, in any case, will allow him to earn a living and learn.
Schedule and results.