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Posted:
2024-01-21 23:59:43
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-22/live-blog-australian-open-day-9-daniil-medvedev-carlos-alcaraz/103374664
A turbo-charged Carlos Alcaraz powered into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time as the second seed dismantled Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 to leave fans at Rod Laver Arena awestruck.
Alcaraz came into the match full of energy after his third-round clash with China's Shang Juncheng was cut short due to the wild card's injury and the 20-year-old Spaniard was too good for Kecmanovic under the lights.
"I did everything almost perfectly. I pushed him to the limit in every point," Alcaraz said following the win.
"I could take my chances in every set … I'm feeling better and better every day. Every match that I play, I've been feeling more comfortable."
Alcaraz broke in the third game of the match and held in the next one to stretch his lead to 3-1 with a fiery backhand winner — one of 18 in the opening set alone — as the 20-year-old set the tone for the match with an early display of aggression.
Kecmanovic, who came through two five-setters to set up his second meeting with Alcaraz, regrouped after dropping the first set and stayed firm until the seventh game of the next, when his opponent struck with a break and then doubled his advantage.
"He played a lot of matches in five sets and a lot of tough matches, so probably he was not at 100 per cent," Alcaraz said.
Things looked bleak for the 60th-ranked Kecmanovic when he quickly found himself a double break down in the third set, and the crowd was unusually subdued when Alcaraz moved in for the kill.
There were huge roars when the twice grand slam champion sealed the victory, and Alcaraz was appreciative.
"It's a pleasure to play here on Rod Laver Arena. It's a beautiful court," he said.
"The people here in Melbourne are so kind and I enjoy playing in front of you. Thanks to you I play my best level. I feel at home."
Alcaraz has set up a quarterfinal clash with sixth seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated Cameron Norrie in five sets on Monday.
Reuters
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That is where we will leave the blog today
That is all from us.
We had upsets, five-set thrillers and a flawless display from Carlos Alcaraz.
Day nine was brilliant.
We are at the pointy end of the grand slam.
Eight remain in the women's and men's draws as the quarterfinals begin tomorrow.
We will be with you then, bringing you all of the live action from Melbourne Park.
Goodnight.
Zheng wins 6-0, 6-3
A brilliant display from the Chinese woman.
That first set was as good as it gets.
There was a little bump in the second set, but nothing to worry her.
She is through to the quarterfinals.
Dodin comes so close to getting back into the match
Dodin wins a game
Losing the first set 0-6 is never a nice feeling.
But Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin was not going to let that get her down.
She held serve against Zheng and, with plenty of support, threw her hands in celebration:
Stats from Zheng's opening set
Just to highlight how impressive that set was, these are the stats where Zheng bettered Oceane Dodin:
Aces: 3-0
Wins on first serve: 100 per cent (8/8) - 30 per cent (3/10)
Winners: 11-2
Unforced errors: 4-8
Zheng smashes through first set 6-0
Is Zheng hoping to catch the late screening at the cinema?
She has absolutely rocketed through the opening set.
Six straight games, three breaks of serve. 24 minutes.
Outstanding.
Final single match of round 4: Qinwen Zheng vs Oceane Dodin
China's 12 seed Qinwen Zheng faces Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin.
Zheng, 21, has made a grand slam QF, while this is Dodin's, 27, most successful grand slam to date.
What's the time on court?
Why do some players feel the need to wear a watch? :-)
- George
Hey George.
Some players may have a dinner reservation and want to end their match quickly.
But some of the top stars you see wearing a watch, probably have an endorsement deal.
Nadal has played many grand slams with a watch which will never be in this blogger's price range.
Carlos sums up his magnificent evening
Even Carlos knew he was on another level this evening.
"I did everything perfectly," he said.
"I push him to the limit in every ball and every point.
"Obviously, he has played a lot of matches in five sets … so physically he wasn't 100 per cent.
"In every ball that I push him to limit, moving side by side, I could take my chances in every set and I think it was a pretty good match for myself."
Carlos Alcaraz through to his first quarterfinal at Melbourne Park
What a performance from world number two Carlos Alcaraz.
Watching that was a thing of beauty.
The Spaniard wins 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.
Miomir Kecmanovic is going to watch footage of this match and not find a lot to be critical about.
He was a step behind but challenged in the opening two sets.
But that third set was unreal.
The winner he hit were of the highest class.
To sum it up in one word: Wow.
Alcaraz secure double break in third set
The Spaniard has come out flying.
He leads 3-0, breaking his opponent's serve twice.
His forehand, cross-court winner to go up 3-0 is worth playing on repeat.
Alcarz wins the second set
Another very nice performance from Carlos Alcaraz, against an opponent who is playing good tennis.
The set was on serve for the opening six games, but Alcaraz found the important break in the seventh game.
Kecmanovic had been serving well in the set up to that point, but was in a hole at 15-40, as Alcaraz nullified the Serb's big serve and converted with winners.
That was enough to get the set victory. Two up is the Spaniard.
Zverev forgets his dad's birthday
Zverev was doing his on-court interview following his win.
He was asked if he wanted to help the crowd sing happy birthday for his dad.
Well …
"Good thing you told me that … after I won 7-6 in the fifth, I completely forgot I'm very, very sorry," he said.
Mr Zverev better get a nice birthday present.
Zverev defeats Norrie to progress to quarterfinals
German sixth seed Alexander Zverev is through to the quarterfinal, overcoming British 19th seed Cam Norrie in five sets.
It was the second time the German was forced to a fifth-set tie break in this Australian Open.
A double fault on the eighth point of the deciding tie breaker was crushing for Norrie.
Serving, down a mini-break 2-5, he conceded just his second break point of the match.
It gave Zverev a big advantage, confidence and momentum.
The German would go on to secure the tie breaker 10-3.
Norrie and Zverev go to a 10-point tie breaker
This great match gets a grandstand finish — a 10-point tie breaker.
Both men have been great in this final set.
Norrie was in a spot of bother serving in the 11th game.
He found himself 0-30 down following some errors.
But the former Wimbledon semifinalist rose to the challenge, winning four consecutive points to lead 6-5 and force Zverev to serve to send the fifth set into a tie breaker.
Zverev served flawlessly.
Anna Kalinskaya defeats 26th seed Jasmine Paolini
Russian Anna Kalinskaya is through to her maiden grand slam quaterfinal with a straight-set vicotry over Italian 26-seed Jasmine Paolini.
Kalinskaya needed 77 minutes to take a 6-4,6-2 win.
And with winners like this, no wonder the Russian is advancing:
Alcaraz takes the opening set 6-4
A very professional opening from the 20-year-old Spaniard.
He got the early break and served well.
He finished off the set with a big ace down the centre.
It was not flawless. He had another break point to go up 5-2, but Miomir Kecmanovic held on — even if it was thanks in part to an unforced error from Alcaraz.
Zverev and Norrie locked in a fifth-set struggle
These two men are holding serve.
Every point feels important at this stage of the match, if not the tournament.
3-3 with Norrie to serve.
This can go either way.
Alcaraz gets the early break
Miomir Kecmanovic has not started badly, but Carlos Alcaraz does not usually need a second invitation to take the advantage in a set of tennis.
The Spaniard has the early break, he now leads 4-2, Kecmanovic serving.