“Last year I was watching matches from my couch, now I moved to the second week here” – Carlos Alcaraz reaches Australian Open 4R for the first time

Carlos Alcaraz has expressed delight at making it to the second week of the 2024 Australian Open for the primary time in his profession.

Alcaraz pulled out of the Melbourne Main in 2023 as he had not recovered from the stomach harm he picked up on the Paris Masters. This yr, he has barely put a foot fallacious on the event.

The Spaniard started his marketing campaign with a cushty straight-sets win towards Richard Gasquet and adopted it with a four-set defeat of Lorenzo Sonego. Within the third spherical, Alcaraz confronted Juncheng Shang and received the primary units earlier than the 18-year-old retired resulting from harm.

In his on-court interview after the competition, Alcaraz said his pleasure at competing in Melbourne this yr after being pressured to overlook the occasion in 2023.

“Yeah, completely [feels good to be in the second week of the Australian Open]. I missed this one final yr. I used to be watching the matches from house, from the sofa, wishing to play within the second week right here,” he stated.

Having bettered his greatest report Down Underneath — a third-round end in 2022 — Alcaraz is hoping to maintain taking part in effectively and go deeper into the event.

“That is the primary time that I moved to the second week right here in Australia. It feels particular. I watched this event yearly. Coming to the event this yr considering of enhancing the outcome that I did in 2022 and I did it. Now it is time to hold going, to play higher and higher, and hopefully nonetheless transferring rounds,” he added.

Carlos Alcaraz: “I am glad lastly I performed towards a youthful participant”

Carlos Alcaraz’s conflict with Juncheng Shang was the primary time the World No. 2 has confronted somebody youthful than him on the ATP tour.

Shang has impressed on the Australian Open. He beat American Mackenzie McDonald in 5 units within the opening spherical earlier than combating from a set all the way down to beat Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal.

Alcaraz wished Shang a speedy restoration and stated that he was pleased to lastly play somebody youthful than him, even when the match didn’t conclude as they’d have hoped.

“This isn’t the best way that anyone needs to maneuver on. To start with, I need to want him a speedy restoration. He is an incredible participant. He began right here [at the Australian Open] unbelievably, taking part in nice video games and I used to be wanting ahead to taking part in this match,” he stated.

“Tennis is rising and extra younger gamers are developing. So I believe it is nice for tennis and the individuals as effectively, watching younger gamers taking part in this stage. So I am glad lastly I performed towards a youthful participant,” the Spaniard added.

With a spot within the quarterfinals on the road, Alcaraz will subsequent face Miomir Kecmanovic.