Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, ranked world number two, defeated Serbian Laslo Djere 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the round of 16 at the Argentine Open. The match stretched over two hours and a minute on the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club’s middle court, Guillermo Vilas, as a supportive Argentine crowd watched the Murcia native push through a demanding test early in the season. After 107 days since his last official appearance in the Paris Masters 1000 quarterfinals, the 19-year-old and former No. 1 faced the familiar mix of ups and downs that come with a return to competition on the emblematic Buenos Aires court.
With six titles already in his collection — including 2021 Umag, 2022 Rio de Janeiro, and Masters 1000 victories in Miami, Barcelona, Madrid, plus the US Open crown — Alcaraz enters Buenos Aires not merely to begin a new season but to assert himself in the Argentine tournament. In the first round, he unleashed a full array of aggressive shots to win 6-2 in about half an hour. Although Djere appeared to be on the verge of retirement due to muscular discomfort, the Serb rallied and captured the second set 6-4, testing the world No. 2’s resilience. Throughout the final set, tensions with Ecuadorian umpire Jimmy Pinoargote flared at times, yet Alcaraz steadied his rhythm, finishing with a decisive 6-2 to celebrate with a clenched fist.
Carlos Alcaraz’s quarterfinal opponent was confirmed as Serbian Dusan Lajovic (ranked 90), who defeated local player Camilo Ugo Karabelli in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, on a hot Buenos Aires day that tested stamina. In the evening session, Argentina’s Thomas Etcheverry (ranked 82) overcame Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (ranked 76) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 after 2 hours and 33 minutes, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Britain’s Cameron Norrie (ranked 12). Norrie edged local favorite Facundo Diaz Acosta in a three-hour marathon, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6).
The tournament schedule for Thursday continued the completion of the last 16 rounds, featuring Austrian Dominic Thiem (ranked 99) versus Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (ranked 101), local hopeful Francisco Cerúndolo (ranked 30) against Spaniard Jaume Munar (ranked 67), Italian Lorenzo Musetti (ranked 20) against Pedro Spaniard Bernabé Zapata Miralles (ranked 74) versus Cachín (ranked 68), and host Diego Schwartzman as a further representative. The Argentine Open marked Alcaraz’s return to competitive play after an injury early in the year delayed the start of his 2023 campaign. He arrived in Buenos Aires with the goal of defending his form ahead of the Rio Open, a 500-event where he would seek to defend his title. The event also highlighted the ongoing tradition at the Open, which has seen champions like Guillermo Vilas with eight titles, alongside famous names such as Carlos Moya and David Ferrer, each with three titles. Past champions include Ivan Lendl, Gustavo Kuerten, Dominic Thiem, Casper Ruud, Guillermo Coria, Gastón Gaudio, David Nalbandian, and Diego Schwartzman, with the most recent final highlight the retirement moment of Juan Martín Del Potro in 2018’s edition.
Alcaraz: “The return is not easy and there is room for improvement”
After the win, Alcaraz acknowledged that there is “a lot of room to improve” even though the result felt positive for a season opener after a four‑month pause. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception in Argentina, noting the atmosphere made him feel at home and contributed to a strong performance. He emphasized the joy of competing and the motivation to keep improving with every match.
“The return to competition isn’t simple. I go into every tournament aiming to win. This first match of the year was solid, but not at my peak. Beyond the hard blows, there were moments when I wasn’t sure how to respond. That’s what competition teaches you — how to adapt and manage the pace and rhythm of points after practice,” he explained. As the world’s second-ranked player, he added that more matches will build consistency, and exercising patience will drive gradual improvement. He also highlighted the inspiration of playing before legends like Gabriela Sabatini, noting the experience as a source of pride for the young Spaniard.
“I wanted to play this tournament. Even if it’s a 500, the decision also depends on last year’s schedule because of the proximity to Australia. I enjoy this experience and whether I can repeat it remains to be seen, but for now I feel comfortable here.” He wrapped up his reflections by looking ahead to a potential quarterfinal with Dusan Lajovic and celebrating the support he has felt since arriving in Argentina. The genuine affection of fans and the challenge of testing his form remain central to his approach as the season unfolds. The narrative continues as Alcaraz lines up the next rounds, intent on translating a strong start into a sustained campaign across the ATP Tour.