Carlos Alcaraz reaches Australian Open fourth round

Australian Open

Alcaraz dazzles Melbourne, rolls into Australian Open R4

Spaniard joins Borg in piece of tennis history following 100th major match

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Carlos Alcaraz, World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is seeking his first Australian Open trophy. By Grant Thompson

Carlos Alcaraz treated the Melbourne crowd to a highlight-reel performance Friday, earning a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Corentin Moutet to reach the Australian Open fourth round.

If the top seed is feeling any pressure of chasing his maiden Australian Open title and a Career Grand Slam, the Spaniard is not showing it. Alcaraz played with confidence and freedom from the baseline, highlighted by a superb tweener on the second point of the second set, a 16-ball exchange that brought alive the fans inside Rod Laver Arena.

After leading 3-0 in the second set, Alcaraz dropped four consecutive games, yet quickly regrouped and earned a crucial break at 4-4 to serve for a two-sets-to-love lead. The World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings raced to a double-break lead in the third set and applied the finishing touches to advance after two hours and five minutes.

With his win, Alcaraz improved to 87-13 at Slam level, tying Bjorn Borg for the best major record after 100 matches. A six-time major champion, the 22-year-old has twice reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Up next for Alcaraz is 19th seed Tommy Paul, who advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired with the American leading 6-1, 6-1. The Spaniard called the physio for a left leg issue in the second set. Alcaraz leads Paul 5-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Through three matches this fortnight, Alcaraz is yet to drop a set. Against the lefty Moutet, the Spaniard pummeled the ball off both wings, hammering 30 winners, several of which were passing shots by the net-rushing Frenchman. Moutet showed flashes of his best tennis and produced his own magic with exquisite tweeners and feel around the net, adding a flair of entertainment despite the defeat.

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