Carlos Alcaraz will compete within the final 16 on the Australian Open for the second straight 12 months. The four-time Main winner confronted the Portuguese Nuno Borges within the third spherical and sealed the deal in just below three hours, beating the lower-ranked participant 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.
Whereas remaining on the title course, world no. 3 is keen to hunt additional enhancements forward of his subsequent duel towards Jack Draper. Carlos didn’t like his losses of sensation, spraying too many errors in units two and three, and he hopes to repair that.
Nonetheless, the Spaniard raised his degree within the fourth set to deliver the victory residence and stay on the title course. The 21-year-old is searching for a Profession Grand Slam in Melbourne, making an attempt to turn out to be by far the youngest participant to realize that!
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Alcaraz dominated along with his first serve and misplaced 26 factors behind the preliminary pictures, denying all three break factors. He fired 54 winners and 50 errors, which is much from poor! Nonetheless, the four-time Main winner seeks fixed enhancements en path to tennis glory.
Borges did a fantastic job however couldn’t take greater than a set after touchdown 15 winners and 41 unforced errors. He confronted 13 break factors and acquired damaged 5 occasions to propel world no. 3 excessive. Nuno adopted Carlos’s tempo within the exchanged rallies.
Nonetheless, the Spaniard constructed a 20-point buffer within the quickest exchanges as much as 4 pictures. The favourite grabbed a break within the first sport of the duel. Alcaraz supplied three fantastic holds and led 4-2 earlier than creating three break factors in sport seven.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Borges sprayed a backhand error on the second, falling 5-2 behind. Carlos held within the eighth sport after the rival’s forehand error, transferring 6-2 up after 31 minutes. Regardless of not liking his efficiency within the closing phases of the second set, Alcaraz served effectively and managed the scoreboard.
Nuno performed higher than within the opener and stayed in contact for a 4-3 lead. The Portuguese performed a wayward forehand within the ninth sport and skilled a break level. Carlos fired a forehand down the road winner for a break and the benefit.
World no. 3 fired winners at 5-4, wrapping up the set and transferring nearer to the end line after an hour and 6 minutes. The Spaniard saved two break factors within the second sport of the third set, holding his preliminary shot intact.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Borges saved break factors at 3-3 and prolonged his probabilities. Alcaraz served to remain within the set at 5-6 and confronted a set level. Ha landed a service winner and held for 6-6 and a tie break. It began with traded mini-breaks earlier than Nuno stepped in.
The lower-ranked participant opened a 5-2 lead after the rival’s forehand error and earned set factors. Carlos performed one other unfastened shot, permitting Nuno to lengthen the battle after two hours and 13 minutes. The Spaniard made a contemporary begin within the fourth set.
He misplaced a single level on serve and waited for the return probabilities. Alcaraz moved in entrance in sport two with an exciting no-look forehand. Borges struggled once more in video games 4 and 6, saving break factors and staying in contact. The Portuguese wasted sport factors at 2-5.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard earned a match level and landed a deep return to attract the rival’s mistake and transfer into the final 16.
“I could have played better. I made too many errors in some parts of the duel and know I must improve my level. I did not disconnect mentally but lost tennis sensations. My level dropped in the closing stages of the second set as I played poorly.
I did not feel good in the third set, either. I told myself to recover my sensations in the fourth set because things could have become complicated for me. I’m happy to score another win and will keep working for my next duel,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned.
