Carlos Alcaraz reached his 10th career grand slam quarter-final, tied for the most by a man before his 22nd birthday, by advancing at the Australian Open when 15th seeded Jack Draper stopped playing because of injury after dropping the first two sets on Sunday.
No.3 seed Alcaraz was ahead 7-5, 6-1 when Draper decided he couldn’t continue.
He’d been dealing with physical issues after winning each of his first three matches at Melbourne Park in five sets.
“It’s not the way I want to win a match, to get through to the next round,” Alcaraz said.
“Happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia, but a little bit sad for Jack.”
The two of them were supposed to spend a week training together in the offseason, but Draper had to turn that chance down because of an injury.
Alcaraz next will meet either 10 time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic or No. 24 Jiri Lehecka who are playing later tonight.
“I’m going to watch that, for sure. Where? I don’t know. I have to recover now. My mind is (on) recovering as good as I can with my team,” Alcaraz said.
Sunday’s victory was Alcaraz’s first against a top 20 opponent at the Australian Open, which he is trying to win for the first time to complete a career grand slam.
He already has two titles from Wimbledon – by defeating Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals – plus one apiece from the US Open and French Open.
Still just 21, Alcaraz pulled even with Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander for the highest number of major quarter-final appearances by that age.
Alcaraz’s best run at Melbourne Park was getting to the quarter-finals last year before losing at that stage to Alexander Zverev.
“I’m just happy with the level that I’m playing,” Alcaraz said.
“On the court, off the court, I’m feeling really comfortable here in Australia.”
What a day at the Miami Open! Novak Djokovic faced off against Jiri Lehecka in a thrilling match that had everyone on the edge of their seats. However, the match was briefly interrupted when a ball kid collapsed on court, causing concern among players and spectators. Thankfully, the ball kid received medical attention and is said to be recovering well.
In another exciting match, rising star Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jack Draper in a hard-fought battle, showcasing his talent and determination on the court. Alcaraz continues to impress with his impressive performances and is definitely one to watch in the future.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff took to TikTok to share a message with her fans, expressing gratitude for their support and sharing her excitement for the upcoming matches. Gauff’s engaging presence on social media continues to endear her to fans around the world.
Lastly, Alexander Zverev faced off against Ugo Humbert in a highly anticipated match that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Zverev showcased his skills and determination, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory over his formidable opponent.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Miami Open as the competition heats up and the world’s top players battle it out on the court.
Tags:
- Novak Djokovic vs Jiri Lehecka
- Ball kid collapse at tennis match
- Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jack Draper
- Coco Gauff shares TikTok message
- Alexander Zverev faces off against Ugo Humbert
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