Carlos
Alcaraz once again showcased his magic with a behind-the-back shot on match
point against Gregoire Barrere at the Shanghai Masters.
The World
No. 2 sailed through the second round with a comfortable victory over the
Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, winning 6-2, 7-5. After a tough loss to Jannik
Sinner in the semifinals of the Beijing Open a few days prior, Alcaraz
displayed confidence in his debut at the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the
year.
However,
his opponent put up a resilient fight, especially in the second set, where he
recovered from a break down and seemed poised to take the set to a tie-break.
Alcaraz demonstrated flawless play under pressure and secured a break to go up
6-5 before finally closing out the match with his serve, earning his first
match point.
The
20-year-old Spanish sensation provided an elegant and skillful display by
executing a behind-the-back shot from the baseline that left the audience astonished.
Following Alcaraz's clever move, his opponent approached the net, only to miss
an attempted lob, ultimately sealing the victory definitively for Alcaraz.
In the
third round, he awaits the winner of the match between Mikhail Kukushkin, who
came through qualifying, and the 30th seed Dan Evans. Alcaraz has a great
opportunity this week to earn valuable points in the battle for the World No. 1
ranking with Djokovic.
The Serbian
player didn't participate in this leg of the tour, resulting in a loss of 500
points this week. Despite this, 'Nole' currently has 11,045 points, while the
Spanish sensation has 8,760 points. However, towards the end of the year,
Djokovic faces the challenge of defending the most points. In fact, he lost 500
points this week due to his 2022 Astana Open title.
Read also
Additionally,
Djokovic has to defend his final appearances in Paris-Bercy and the ATP Finals,
which are opportunities for Alcaraz to continue narrowing the gap.
Although
Djokovic currently leads the Race with 8,945 points compared to 'Carlitos'
8,400 points, if the Spaniard reaches the final, he will surpass 'Nole' in the
Race, increasing his chances of finishing the year as the World No. 1 after
Paris-Bercy and the Finals.
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.
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