Efe
Updated Tuesday, March 26, 2024-07:22
Tenis Alcaraz shines against Carballés in a comfortable debut in Miami
Carlos Alcaraz
has qualified for the round of 16 of the
Miami Open
after beating Frenchman
Gael Monfils
(n.47), who had problems with his left foot, 6-2 and 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes. Recent champion in Indian Wells, the Spaniard will face the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (n.24) in the next round of this Masters 1,000.
Alcaraz, number 2 in the world, is going through a magnificent moment of form although this Monday he did not have to display the full potential of his tennis since the duel was marked by his rival's physical problems. After just over a quarter of an hour of play (2-2, 0-30 for Alcaraz), Monfils, 37, hurt himself when hitting a backhand and
momentarily went to the ground
.
He did not receive medical attention, but he stretched his left foot trying to quell the pain that, from then on, clearly hindered his mobility and precision in his blows. Just in that game Alcaraz got his first break and from then on he dominated the match with authority until he closed out the victory.
Before that mishap, Monfils had shown himself to be a dangerous opponent for Alcaraz, showing off his athletic ability, taking out the whip from his right and being aggressive with the rest.
The one from El Palmar, who had won the only precedent so far between the two (round of 16 at Indian Wells in 2022), was delighted to accept the challenge and in the first games rallies of fascinating quality and intensity were seen before his left foot failed him. Monfils.
Alcaraz was very serious from start to finish and did not relax at all despite the Frenchman's problems. He did not lose the thread of the duel, he successfully moved the ball from side to side, broke Monfils' serve once again in the first set and
scored the opening set in 32 minutes
.
With resignation and a crooked smile, the Frenchman continued on the court although in the second set he gave up his first blank serve and lost his serve again shortly after (4-1).
The only setback for Alcaraz was that he conceded a break (the only one of the entire match) when he was serving to win against a proud Monfils (5-3).
Spectacular points
But he corrected it with overwhelming solvency in his next turn to serve, he completed the victory without leaving room for any surprises and still had time to score
some spectacular points
that brought the public to its feet and that even Monfils greeted smiling.
The Murcian has become a nightmare for French tennis players, as he has accumulated a marvelous 12-1 against rivals from that country (his only defeat was against
Hugo Gaston
in 2021 at the Paris Masters 1,000).
Jimmy Butler,
player of the NBA's Miami Heat and friend of Alcaraz, the Brazilian soccer player
Neymar
and the former Argentine tennis player
Juan Martín Del Potro
were some of the celebrities who were seen this Monday in the stands of the Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami is a tournament that brings back good memories for Alcaraz since in 2022 he won his first Masters 1,000 title there.
In 2023 he lost in the semifinals against the Italian
Jannik Sinner
(n.3) but now aspires to the double known as 'Sunshine Double', that is, becoming champion in the same year in Indian Wells and Miami.