Alcaraz plays in spurts and goes to the third round

After defeating the Japanese Tar Daniel in the first set, and breaking away and surprising him in the second, Carlos Alcaraz got serious at the most important moment to react in the third set and open the way to the third round of Roland Garros. It was a victory in spurts for the Murcian, who was buffeted by the wind in Philippe-Chatrier and must go on throughout the Grand Slam where he is appearing for the first time in his career as world number one. Alcaraz, who was better than Daniel with 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 and 6-2, surrendered his first set in this edition of the Paris tournament, although it was an incentive for him to condemn the passage to the next round. In the third round, Canadian Denis Shapovalov is waiting for him, a dangerous opponent, although he fails on clay.

The leader of the ATP classification and the first seed of Roland Garros had much more problems against Tar Daniel than in his debut. However, he gave too many opportunities to the Japanese, a tennis player raised in Valencia, who offered his best level in the second set and made it to the final.

bad second set

If in his debut Alcaraz finished off Cobolli in just two hours, in the second round he needed two hours and 25 minutes to defeat Daniel. He started dominantly, although he had ups and downs, and the relaxation in the second set served as a signal for him to wake up and recover his best game, with physical and mental potential that was unattainable for the number 112 of the season. world.

In a match for the best of five sets, and given Alcaraz’s superiority over Daniel, the match could not be decided in the fifth set, as the Murcian returned his best tennis in the fourth set. Now he faces another opponent against whom he will not be able to ignore, but who is accessible on the ground, Shapovalov, who beat the Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-3 in almost three hours yesterday in the second round.

“I’m not copying anyone, I’m one hundred percent Alcaraz”

“It’s normal that they compare me to Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal or Novak Djokovic, because that’s happened in the last 20 years, but I don’t define myself, I didn’t ask anyone for shots, that’s one hundred percent Alcaraz. I like to think that I am one hundred percent and not a copy of any other player,” said the Spaniard after his victory over Japanese Taro Daniel.

On the other hand, the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich silenced the momentum of the young Frenchman Luca van Assche, won 6-4, 6-3 and 7-6 (6) and advanced to the third round of the tournament for the second time in his career. Roland Garros, where Serbian Novak Djokovic is waiting for him, who eliminated Hungarian Marton Fucsovics (7-6 (7-2), 6-0 and 6-3).

Swiatek, against Liu and Ruud against Zeppieri, on Thursday the day of the tournament in France

Norway’s Casper Ruud, a finalist of the last edition, will face Italy’s Giulia Zeppieri this Thursday, in the first match of the morning session on the Philippe Chatrier court starting at 11:45.

Next, on the same stage, Poland’s Swiatek (number 1 in the world, who is looking for her third crown after those in 2020 and 2022) and American Claire Liu will meet.

Also at Philippe Chatrier, the afternoon session will start with Rune-Monfils (not starting before 20:15).

In other important matches, the Italian Jannik Sinner will meet the German Daniel Altmaier (the second match on the Suzanne Lenglen court, after Rybakina-Noskova, which starts at 11 a.m.), and the Spaniards Sara Sorribes and Alina Bolsova will meet the Croatian Petra Martic (the first match on court 12, at 11:00) and Slovakian Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova (court 13, 11:00).

Also, not before 5 p.m., Zverev will play against Slovak Molcan.

All matches will be broadcast by Eurosport 1 and 2.