It had been a few weeks since Carlos Alcaraz had starred in any record of precocity and he did so this Friday at Roland Garros, becoming, at 19 years old, the youngest to reach the round of 16 of the tournament since Novak Djokovic (19) in the edition from 2006. The Murcian, who had not gone that far in the tournament, took his revenge against Sebastian Korda, who had beaten him last April in Monte Carlo. This time he beat him (he already did it in the 2021 NextGen Finals) 6-4, 6-4 and 6-2 in 2h06. On Sunday he will face Karen Kachanov, which dropped the tenth favorite, Cameron Norrie (6-2, 7-5, 5-7 and 6-4). It will be his first duel against the 25-year-old Russian and 26th in the ranking.
Alcaraz, who has 31 wins this season, 13 consecutive on clay, was clear that the match was not going to be like the previous one. He brought the lesson well learned, because he returned to see him to see what he had failed.
In the night session of the Chatrier, with a festive and somewhat football atmosphere due to the presence in the stands of Real Madrid fans who will be in the Champions League final today, Carlos had fun. He controlled the aggressiveness of Korda (United States, 21 years and 30th) with patience and mobility. He was better in everything, except in aces (1-9) And he put the spectators in his pocket for one turn that it is not yet special because of its ‘youth’ (since 2020), but that it will be. Djokovic has already passed by, who yesterday beat Bedene (6-3, 6-3 and 6-2) and will face Schwartzman.
Sebastian Korda
vs
Carlos Alcaraz
Sets: