Alcaraz Sails into Australian Open Second Week
Teenage sensation reaches milestones despite opponent's withdrawal
January 18, 2023
MELBOURNE, Australia - Carlos Alcaraz has stormed into the second week of the Australian Open for the first time, securing a spot in the round of 16 despite a bizarre turn of events.
The 19-year-old Spaniard was scheduled to face Chinese qualifier Jerry Shang in the third round, but Shang withdrew just hours before the match due to a right leg injury. It marked the first time Alcaraz had advanced to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament without playing a full match.
Earlier in the tournament, Alcaraz had comfortably dispatched Norbert Gombos and Dusan Lajovic in straight sets. His victory over Lajovic on Friday was particularly impressive, as the Serb had won the pair's previous meeting in Dubai last year.
Alcaraz's progress at the Australian Open has further cemented his status as one of the most promising players in the world. The teenager became the youngest player to finish a season ranked in the top 10 since Rafael Nadal in 2005, and he is now poised to make a deep run at his first Grand Slam title.
In the fourth round, Alcaraz will face either Grigor Dimitrov or Alex de Minaur. Dimitrov is a former world number three and has reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open twice, while de Minaur is a rising star from Australia who won the 2021 US Open junior title.
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