Murcian victory against Lloyd Harris by 6-3, 6-1 and 7-6 (4) in two and a half hours
MADRID, 1 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz qualified this Friday for the round of 32 of the US Open, the fourth ‘Grand Slam’ of the season and which is played on a hard court in New York (United States), after winning by a clear 6-3, 6-1 and 7-6 (4) to the South African Lloyd Harris, current number 177 in the ATP ranking.
Again with a sleeveless shirt and a colorful outfit, Alcaraz continued in his sauce to make the public enjoy the Arthur Ashe Stadium for two and a half hours. His idyll with the New York public, which last year wrapped him up until he won the title, is more alive than ever at the Flushing Meadows facilities.
Harris was barely a blank opponent in the second round of this US Open, having to face two ‘break’ balls in the opening game. It is true that the South African saved both and even enjoyed another two in his favor in the next chapter, but Alcaraz started there to carburete.
The man from El Palmar made amends quickly and did not hesitate again with his service throughout the first round. Thanks to a break in the fifth game (3-2), Alcaraz took the lead and finished off the job in the ninth game with another ‘break’. It was then 6-3, after 43 minutes of a fight mostly with short points.
The long exchanges seemed reserved for sets to come, and in fact in the second set it was even more difficult to see any. In his first game, the two break opportunities in favor of Harris were a mirage, as was the fact that his turn of service was scored in white just after (1-1).
Due to conceding another two breaks (3-1, 5-1), sealed by committing double faults, the man from Cape Town gave up the second set (6-1) and focused on starting the third set with a wash face. And in faith that he did, much more solid with his serves and warning in the fourth game (2-2) that he had not yet given up.
Taking out the ‘T’, the Murcian then saved two break balls, but in his next turn of service he did give up the score; It was blank and, in the same way, committing a double fault at the key moment (2-4). He had replicated misses from his rival, while Harris was having the best of him extending the points.
HARRIS GETS BETTER AND BUGS A LITTLE
Despite seeing the tables turned, the defending champion prevented the rest from allowing his opponent to consolidate the advantage (3-4). However, Harris was willing to put up more of a fight, based on his palpable improvement in his drive. He excelled in the eighth game with one of those blows, for the parallel, and also with a very crossed two-handed backhand.
The South African had three break balls, close to surprising Alcaraz again, who by now had already made a face. He showed determination to save them and responded in the ninth (4-5) to each variation of the South African. With no predilection for a specific blow, although polishing his inverted right hand with the passing of the hours, Harris taught repertoire.
It didn’t work for him to bother him in the tenth (5-5) and the Murcian also earned a ‘break’ option right after, resolved by his rival with an open serve and climb into the net. It was correct, but not neat; and although Alcaraz saw the hole, he did not channel the ball. The option to go bankrupt vanished and he had to settle for forcing sudden death (6-6).
Quickly mounting Harris’s serve, the Spaniard enjoyed a 3-1 lead. However, the immediate response was first an ‘ace’ and a left cross for 3-3. Alcaraz released nerves thanks to a high shot, and his little shout made it 4-3; Thanks to a strong unblemished return, the man from El Palmar was placed 5-3 and finally took advantage of his income to close the ‘tie-break’ at 7-4.
His next opponent will be the British Daniel Evans, who beat the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp this Friday 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3 in two hours and 42 minutes. In the face-to-face between Alcaraz and Evans, the balance favors Murcia 2-0; The last time they met was on April 22, in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-70th Conde de Godó Trophy.