Carlos Alcaraz etched his name deeper into tennis lore during the Australian Open, thrashing Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in his landmark 100th Grand Slam match to storm into the last 16. The Spanish sensation, yet to concede a set, equalled Bjorn Borg’s superior 87-13 record in majors.
From the outset, Alcaraz dictated terms with booming serves and laser-like groundstrokes. A second-set wobble saw him surrender a 3-0 advantage, but his mental fortitude shone as he broke back at 4-4. In the third, he was ruthless, securing a double break to seal a clinical triumph.
Reflecting on the battle, Alcaraz said, ‘Corentin is tricky – you can’t predict his game. But the court felt great today, and those rallies were pure entertainment for everyone watching.’
Awaiting him is Tommy Paul, the No. 19 seed. Should Alcaraz conquer the tournament, he’d claim his first Australian Open and become the youngest career Grand Slam holder. Outshining legends like Nadal (86-14), McEnroe, Djokovic (79-21), and Federer (80-20) in their first 100 Slams, Alcaraz’s trajectory is stratospheric. Even Sinner’s 81-19 pales in comparison.
A two-time Melbourne quarterfinalist, the 22-year-old six-time champion is on a mission. With flawless form, Alcaraz eyes the ultimate prize in Melbourne.