Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Carlos Alcaraz powered through to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a decisive 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory over French player Corentin Moutet, although he confessed that Moutet outshone him in the drop-shot department.
Despite the straight-sets win, the match was far from predictable, featuring an array of brilliant shots and creative play that captivated the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. Alcaraz, the world No. 1, is in pursuit of a career Grand Slam, and this win sets him on the right path.
Moutet kept everyone entertained with his unorthodox playing style, showcasing drop shots, volleys, and even an underarm serve. Alcaraz remarked, “When you play someone like Corentin, it’s always a surprise what’s next. I really enjoyed it, and we both made some exceptional plays.”
The Spaniard, who has practiced drop shots extensively, humorously noted he found a worthy rival in that aspect. “It felt like a drop-shot competition, and he came out on top,” he joked.
Late in the first set, Alcaraz expressed some frustration about chasing down Moutet’s shots. Nevertheless, he responded with spectacular shots of his own, keeping control of the match.
Moutet seemed poised for a comeback after winning four consecutive games in the second set, but Alcaraz remained steady and quickly regained his lead.
The crowd was evidently more supportive of Moutet this time compared to his earlier matches, as he acknowledged their cheers with a gracious tip of his cap after winning a notable point.
Next, Alcaraz faces off against Tommy Paul, the 19th seed, who advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired due to injury.
Sabalenka and Gauff Overcome Challenges
On the women's side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and third-seed Coco Gauff also needed to summon their determination to advance.
Sabalenka triumphed in a nail-biting 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) match against Anastasia Potapova, admitting she struggled to find her rhythm. “There were times when I felt completely out of sync,” Sabalenka shared. “She played fantastic tennis, and it was a tough battle.”
The defending champion faced three set points in the opening set before ultimately winning in a tiebreak. The second set saw Potapova push her to the limit, holding three set points herself, but Sabalenka kept her composure.
Sabalenka, who aims for her third title at the Australian Open in four years, will meet Canadian teen Victoria Mboko next.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, fought back from a set down against Hailey Baptiste, winning 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, improving her performance notably after the first set.
Young Stars Shine as Medvedev Resilient
In another highlight, 18-year-old Iva Jovic stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory. After facing pressure while serving for the match, Jovic opted for a more aggressive approach.
She will next challenge Yulia Putintseva, who overcame a challenging crowd to secure a win over Zeynep Sonmez.
Daniil Medvedev demonstrated remarkable resilience once again, coming back from two sets down to defeat Fabian Marozsan with scores of 6-7 (5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3. This was the fifth time he has achieved such a comeback in a Grand Slam contest.
The former US Open champion is set for a thrilling rematch against Learner Tien, who previously upset him in a five-set match at last year's Australian Open.
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