Murcian talent Carlos Alcaraz, number two in the world, voiced a clear aim after speaking about matching Novak Djokovic in career milestones. He prepared for a demanding clash described as a battle by his camp, ahead of a last-16 showdown with Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic at the Australian Open.
He reflected on the previous day’s Miami encounter, noting that he anticipates a similar level of intensity in Melbourne. He observed that Kecmanovic had a tougher 2023, and he was surprised by the strong form of Tommy Paul as well as Kecmanovic himself. The Spaniard added that all his tools would be required to overcome the opponent and advance to the quarterfinals of the sport’s premier event, something he has not achieved in past attempts. (AP)
Alcaraz and his team paused their session, initially scheduled for mid-afternoon on court 16, amid a Melbourne weather shift that brought cooler temperatures and light drizzle. The group redirected to the National Centre courts at Melbourne Park, where they trained for about an hour. (Reuters)
The practice was not overly strenuous and appeared to maintain the upbeat, carefree tempo that has characterized Alcaraz in recent days. His brother Álvaro watched from the other side of the net as the main stage of the week featured changes of direction and variety, a dynamic praised by coach Samuel López for maintaining balance and adaptability. (BBC Sport)
Alcaraz, who commented after his first victory that day that daytime play suits him best, prepared to face Kecmanovic in the opening night session of the tournament. (ESPN)
The two competitors had already posed a formidable challenge to the Miami field in 2022, with the Murcian needing to push hard in a tightly contested match that concluded 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 after two hours and twenty-three minutes on court. (Associated Press)