How did Alcaraz Achieve a Record-Breaking Win in His 100th Grand Slam Match?
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Key Takeaways
Melbourne, Jan 23 (NationPress) The World No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, secured a convincing victory of 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 against Corentin Moutet in his milestone 100th Grand Slam match, propelling him into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.
This triumph marked a significant milestone as Alcaraz improved his record to 87-13 at the Grand Slam level, equaling Bjorn Borg for the finest major record in the first 100 matches. The 22-year-old Spaniard has reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne on two occasions.
As a six-time Major champion, Alcaraz has outperformed tennis legends, including Rafael Nadal and fellow ATP No. 1 Club member John McEnroe, both of whom recorded 86-14 in their initial 100 major matches, according to ATP statistics.
Novak Djokovic, the record holder with 24 major titles and a ten-time champion in Melbourne, had a 79-21 record in his first 100 Slam matches, while Roger Federer finished with 80-20. Notably, Alcaraz's rival Jannik Sinner played his 100th major match (81-19) last year at Wimbledon, where he faced Alcaraz in the finals, ultimately winning that encounter, as reported by ATP.
“It was a challenging match. Facing someone like Corentin means you have to be prepared for anything. That unpredictability makes it tough, but I really enjoyed the experience on the court. Both of us exhibited some fantastic shots and points. There were definitely some memorable moments,” Alcaraz reflected.
After initially leading 3-0 in the second set, Alcaraz faltered with four straight game losses but swiftly regained composure, managing a vital break at 4-4 to secure a two-set advantage. He then established a double-break lead in the third set, wrapping up the match in just over two hours.
Remaining undefeated in sets thus far, Alcaraz will next face Tommy Paul, the 19th seed, who advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired with Paul leading 6-1, 6-1.
At merely 22 years old, Alcaraz, a six-time major champion, is in pursuit of further accolades. If he clinches his first Australian Open title, he will achieve a Career Grand Slam and become the youngest player to do so.