After a laborious first set, the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz(3rd in the world) won 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 and 6-2 in his second round match against Australian Aleksandar Vukic (69th), this Wednesday in Wimbledon.
In the next stage of the competition, the 21-year-old Spaniard will face American Frances Tiafoe (29th), with a ticket to the round of 16 as her prize.
In the first round, Alcaraz had also had more problems than expected in getting rid of Estonian Mark Lajal (269th), whom he beat 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 and 6-2.
This Wednesday, the recent Roland Garros champion also had a difficult start to the match, but after the first set everything was much easier for the Murcian.
In the first set, Alcaraz went into the match with a 5-2 lead, but Vukic won four games in a row to take a 6-5 lead. The Spaniard equalised, forced a tie-break and put out the fire.
In the next two sets, Alcaraz was able to control the game widely.
“I’m happy with my match. The first set was the key. He served to take that set, but I was able to play a good tie-break. In the second and third, I really played at a high level, so I’m very happy,” said the Spanish star.
Regarding Tiafoe, his next opponent, he said he was “ready to face the challenge.”
“We played a very good match at the US Open (in the 2022 semi-finals, with Alcaraz winning) and I know how talented he is. With his style of play it is even more difficult to play against him on grass,” he said.
Alcaraz, winner of three Grand Slam tournaments on three different surfaces in his still short career, is aiming for an unusual Roland Garros-Wimbledon double this year.
Source: AFP
