Carlos Alcaraz defeats Casper Ruud in pre Australian Open exhibition in final preparation before Melbourne
ATP
In his last
showdown before the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 6-4,
6-2 in the Kooyong Classic exhibition, held on the Rod Laver Arena central court
in an hour and 29 minutes. It was a remarkable triumph for Alcaraz, who found
himself 4-2, 40-0 down in the score, but he stepped on the gas, winning 10 of
the last 12 games to claim the victory.
Although
Alcaraz didn't have the best start to the match, he dominated in backhand
exchanges and capitalized on some of Ruud's service issues. However, as an
exhibition match, neither of the two took too many physical risks, and in the
end, 'Carlitos' secured the victory, leaving good impressions for his
participation in the Aussie Open.
Alcaraz awaits his debut
World No. 2
didn’t play official matches before his debut in Melbourne and utilized the
exhibitions to find his rhythm just two days before facing the Frenchman
Richard Gasquet (No. 131).
With the
main draw draw defined, Alcaraz leads the bottom half of the draw and will play
on the third day of competition. He will have to wait for the first two days to
determine the section of the bracket led by Novak Djokovic before commencing
his participation.
With
Djokovic defending a significant number of points, Alcaraz has an opportunity
to reclaim the No. 1 spot in Australia. Although Djokovic currently leads by
2,200 points, when factoring in the points he defends in Melbourne, the gap
narrows to just 200 points. This means that Alcaraz could become No. 1 if he
wins the tournament or advances further than Djokovic
Previous performances in Melbourne
Until now,
Alcaraz hasn't achieved notable results at the Australian Open, although his
circumstances in previous editions were very different from his current status.
In 2021, he reached the second round in his first Grand Slam main draw, and in
2022, he made it to the third round in Melbourne, accumulating...
However, in
2023, he suffered from an injury that kept him out in the latter part of 2022
and the beginning of 2023, precisely when he held the world No. 1 ranking and
was the most recent Grand Slam champion, winning the US Open trophy.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.mandoist05-11-2026
- Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.mandoist05-11-2026
- Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.mandoist31-10-2026
- Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.mandoist29-10-2026
- With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?mandoist29-10-2026
