Carlos Alcaraz hits a sliding backhand down the line winner against Lorenzo Sonego. Around the post. 👀 He was stretched so far off the court. But Carlos is a master at playing video game tennis. 🇪🇸
Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz survives Sonego setback en route to reaching third round in Melbourne
ATPThursday, 18 January 2024 at 09:17
Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the third round of the Australian Open after playing a very tough match against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego. He continued to show some weaknesses though at key moments that made him lose his first set of the tournament (6-4/6-7/6-3/7-6).
In the first part of the first set Carlitos again had difficulties to break his opponent's serve and missed some break points. However, he did not despair, he was patient and ended up finding his moment to, with only one break, end up taking the set without giving up a single break point opportunity with his serve;
In the second set the dynamic was similar, although Sonego improved the level of his serve and did not give too many chances to the rest to a very aggressive Carlos who tried again and again to pressure the Italian. At 4-4 he had a 30-all that could not end in a break. At 5-5 he had a 30-30 again, but he missed two returns on his opponent's second serve and the Italian secured the tie break;
A Sonego who had not had any break point in the duel went 0-30 knowing that he could take the set. Carlos pulled magic, came back and the second set was decided in sudden death.
TIE BREAK SECOND SET
The Italian started winning the first point thanks to a great first serve. Then Carlos equalized with his forehand against a Sonego who tried to reverse and failed. He went 2-1 the Italian getting a mini break pressing the rest. Then he consolidated that mini break thanks to two great serves. 4-1 Sonego up in the tiebreak.
Carlos was completely overwhelmed by a Sonego who was serving very deep and was 5-1 up. Alcaraz took a couple more points in the tie break but the Italian continued to be very aggressive and ended up closing it out 7-3.
THIRD SET.
Sonego started the third set very aggressively pressing Carlitos' serve, but the player from Murcia reacted well and started the third set on top. On the Italian's first serve, Alcaraz was again very aggressive. The Italian got nervous, missed a couple of easy shots and the Spaniard took advantage of it to break his serve again;
Thus, the dynamics of the duel had completely changed in just a couple of points and Charlie was 3-0 up in the third set. He was breathing after the bad moment he had gone through.
In the following games both players held their serves with more or less solvency and the duel went to 5-2 for the Spanish player. Sonego held his serve, but Carlos was perfect in the decisive game and took two sets to one after closing the third set 6-3.
FOURTH SET
Carlos Alcaraz continued to be very aggressive in the rest at the beginning of the fourth set and broke Sonego who seemed to lose some mobility with respect to the first sets. The duel, however, was not going to be easy, and an insistent Sonego broke Carlitos' serve for the first time to equalize the fourth set.
Both players won their next games with solvency and the fourth set was 2-2. A lost opportunity however for Carlos who was going to have to keep on rowing against a tough opponent;
The Italian continued to be very involved in the duel and managed to get 4-3 up despite Alcaraz trying to put pressure on his serve. A spectacular Lorenzo Sonego, who managed to lift the audience of the Rod Laver from their seats, secured the tie break with some of the best points of the clash. Charlie forced the tie break of the fourth;
Carlos made a mini break early in the tie break to go up 3-0. Sonego won his next two serves and was down 3-2. Carlitos had two serves to extend the lead again. With a good serve he went to the change of court 4-2. He continued to feel the ball well in the tie break and ended up closing the match. Great test of fire against a great Sonego;
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