The Wimbledon champion changes the chip in a hard-fought victory in Nice that he will try to seal in the mixed with Rebeka Masarova
MADRID, 21 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz surpassed (4-6, 6-4, 10-8) the Belgian David Goffin in a performance of merit in his debut at the Hopman Cup, changing the chip after winning Wimbledon last week to maintain Spain’s options to reach the final of the mixed tournament by countries of the International Federation.
The Murcian added a key victory after the defeat of Rebeka Masarova in the first point of the tie against Belgium, in a 7-6(3), 2-6, 10-5 defeat of Elise Mertens. Alcaraz and Masarova will play this Friday the mixed doubles against the Belgians in search of scoring the point of the tie and play the pass to the final of the tournament on Saturday against Croatia.
Alcaraz was slow to adapt to the clay in Nice after a month playing and winning on grass. The champion at Queen’s and, last Sunday, at Wimbledon in the final against Novak Djokovic, also found a powerful Goffin with his forehand and barely gave a chance in the first set, although there were alternatives.
The Spaniard gave up his serve at the start of the second set but finished getting into tune midway through the sleeve. The double champion of ‘Grand Slam’ recovered the service but was not able to confirm the ‘break’, although Goffin, much more physically drowned, could not stand the exchange or the rise in level of his rival.
With three games in a row, two blank, Alcaraz forced the ‘super tie-break’, where he also came back from a 0-4 start. The Murcian signed one more exhibition in a full 2023, as well as his career in full swing the last two years, to add a workman’s victory after all the flashes from the All England Tennis Club.