“Physically he wasn’t at 100%,” Carlos Alcaraz breezes into the Australian Open semifinals with another easy win and is now set to face Alexander Zverev

20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz stuns at Rod Laver Arena and puts on a turbo-charged game to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets at the Australian Open.

“Physically he wasn’t at 100%,” Carlos Alcaraz breezes into the Australian Open semifinals with another easy win and is now set to face Alexander Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev (Credit: ATP Tour)

Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, raced into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time, stunning fans at Rod Laver Arena. The 20-year-old Spaniard demonstrated his turbo-charged game by defeating Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.

Alcaraz, bursting with adrenaline after having his third-round match against China’s Shang Juncheng cut short due to an injury. Following his dominant win, Alcaraz expressed happiness with his exceptional performance.

YouTube video
I did everything almost perfectly. I pushed him to the limit in every point.
He said via AO presser

The Spaniard’s aggressive attitude was clear from the beginning, as he broke in the third game and continued to put pressure on Kecmanovic. Alcaraz’s ferocious backhand wins, including 18 in the first set alone, set the tone for the game.

FS Video

Despite Kecmanovic’s attempts to regroup, Alcaraz maintained control and made critical breaks to take the victory.

In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz will face sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who is expected to give him another tough match. Acknowledging Kecmanovic’s challenging journey to the match, Alcaraz recognized the Serbian’s efforts. 

He played a lot of matches in five sets and a lot of tough matches, so probably he was not at 100%.
Continuing further, he added

Carlos Alcaraz Sets Sights on Chasing Djokovic’s Records

In a recent news conference, Alcaraz outlined his ambitions while noting the significant experience gap between himself and Novak Djokovic.

Novak-Djokovic-and-Carlos-Alcaraz-at-the-2023-Riyadh-Tennis-Cup
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

While acknowledging that Djokovic had nearly reached the summit of a tennis career, including an incredible 24 Grand Slam title victories, Alcaraz emphasized his desire to beat the Serbian maestro’s records.

I try not to give it importance because the records I want to break are the ones that Novak (Djokovic) is breaking. These are the goals I have set for my career. Taking them away from legends like Borg is always a good thing, but if you put too much value on them, it can work against you.
Alcaraz stated during the conference.

Despite his ambitions, Alcaraz maintained a balanced perspective, recognizing the dangers of excessive pressure. He stated a desire to move at his own pace, knowing that putting too much importance on records could stymie rather than help his quest.

While Alcaraz is keen to emulate Djokovic’s achievements, he remains focused on his immediate goals and intends to take a cautious approach to his career. As the tennis world keeps a close eye on the young Spaniard’s progress, Alcaraz’s dedication to greatness and readiness to learn from the experienced Djokovic pave the way for a gripping story in the sport.

In case you missed it: