World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz confronted the house star Alexei Popyrin within the pre-Australian Open check. The Spaniard defeated the Aussie 6-3, 6-4, bouncing again from the Alex de Minaur loss.
The four-time Main winner secured two breaks within the opening set. He grabbed one other return recreation early within the second set earlier than dropping the benefit in recreation seven. Popyrin locked the consequence at 4-4 and earned three break probabilities in a marathon recreation 9.
Alcaraz denied them and held after 14 minutes earlier than sealing the cope with a break in recreation ten, bringing the victory residence.
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Alexei closed the opening recreation of the duel with a service winner and welcomed the rival’s forehand error two video games later for 2-1. The Aussie prolonged the fourth recreation with a backhand winner earlier than the Spaniard closed it with a smash winner for 2-2.
Alexei Popyrin & Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Alcaraz stepped in on the return within the fifth recreation and seized a break likelihood after the rival’s free drop shot, forging a 3-2 benefit. Did it give world no. 3 a lift? Definitely! He held at love for 4-2 and closed the eighth recreation with a artful winner on the internet for 5-3.
Carlos stepped in on the return within the ninth recreation and landed a return winner for one more break and 6-3 in 40 minutes. Felling the ball in these moments, Alcaraz offered one other break within the second recreation of the second set with a backhand winner.
The Spaniard fired a forehand winner within the third recreation, rattling off 5 video games and transferring nearer to the end line. World no. 3 landed a service winner within the fifth recreation for a 4-1 lead, controlling the scoreboard and outplaying his rival.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Popyrin made a push on the return within the seventh recreation and pulled the break again, returning to the optimistic facet. The Aussie prolonged the ninth recreation and turned it to a marathon! Alcaraz performed towards three break factors, defending them and avoiding one other setback.
World no. 3 wrapped up the sport after 14 minutes and opened a 5-4 lead. It gave him a lift and confidence to step in on the return in recreation ten. Carlos created a match level, and Alexei performed a free drop shot to propel his rival excessive.
