Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, started his 2025 marketing campaign with a commanding win on the Australian Open. The 21-year-old Spaniard overcame Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 in his first match of the season, advancing to the second spherical in a single hour and 54 minutes on Margaret Court docket Enviornment.
Alcaraz, who’s vying to turn out to be the youngest man in historical past to finish a profession Grand Slam, confirmed flashes of brilliance regardless of a quick lapse within the second set. The third seed initially appeared in full management, racing to a 6-1, 3-1 lead. Nevertheless, Shevchenko capitalized on a dip in Alcaraz’s kind, taking a 5-3 lead earlier than the Spaniard refocused to show the set round.
Alcaraz will now face off with Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka within the subsequent spherical.
“I attempt to convey the most effective of me on daily basis,” Alcaraz stated in his on-court interview. “That’s the key. Day by day I attempt to be a greater individual and participant.”
The Spaniard’s aggressive baseline play yielded 37 winners, and his improved consistency within the closing phases ensured he closed out the match in type. Alcaraz subsequent faces Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka as he goals for his maiden Australian Open title, including to a résumé that features victories on the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), and Roland Garros (2024).
Coach Ferrero Returns to Alcaraz’s Nook
This 12 months, Alcaraz’s trusted coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, returned to his courtside position after lacking final 12 months’s event as a consequence of knee surgical procedure. Ferrero has been instrumental in Alcaraz’s rise since their partnership started six years in the past.
“It’s nice to have him,” Alcaraz stated of Ferrero. “He is aware of me properly and is aware of how you can get the most effective from me. It’s a event we need to win in the future, and hopefully, this 12 months.”
Alcaraz is seeded to probably face Novak Djokovic within the quarter-finals and Alexander Zverev within the semi-finals. Final 12 months, he reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, his finest efficiency within the event thus far.
Highlights from Day 2
Elsewhere, fifteenth seed Jack Draper staged a dramatic comeback, defeating Mariano Navone 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a four-hour thriller. Draper hit 54 winners to arrange a second-round conflict with Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, who overcame Roman Safiullin in 4 units.
American Sebastian Korda additionally superior, defeating Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). The twenty second seed will meet Aleksandar Vukic within the subsequent spherical.
With an bold begin to 2025, Alcaraz’s concentrate on arduous work and consistency stays key as he chases historical past at Melbourne Park.