2024-01-23 18:30:51
Alkaras and Zverev…an exciting clash in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open Cup
Carlos Alcarras, ranked second in the Australian Open Tennis Championship, is preparing for what is considered his toughest test during the tournament, as he meets German Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park. This is in a match that is expected to witness an exciting clash between two different styles of play.
The Spaniard Alcarras had previously faced Zverev 7 times, witnessing 4 victories for the distinguished German player by playing from the back line, while Alcarras was the winner of the only previous confrontation between them in major tournaments, as he won in 3 consecutive sets in their match in the quarter-finals of the US Open last year.
Zverev attributed the defeat to fatigue, after he played a marathon match against Jannik Sinner in the round of 16. The German player took revenge on Alcarras when he defeated him in the final tournament of the season in Turin.
Zverev said, after his victory over Cameron Norrie in the current tournament: “I am not in the state I was in (the US Open) when I was completely exhausted, and I feel physically exhausted. “I’m definitely tired… but I’m not exhausted… I expect it to be very different (this time).”
Alkaras, who had to play more than three sets in just one match during his career in Melbourne, spent about 5 hours less time on the court than Zverev, and the performances that Alkaras presented in his matches caught the attention during the tournament this year.
Alkaras said, after winning in three straight sets over Serbian Miomir Katsmanovic in the round of 16: “I am proud of the level I am playing at. “I feel better in every match I play, and I will go into the quarter-final match with great confidence.”
Russian Daniil Medvedev qualifies for the quarter-finals (AFP)
Daniil Medvedev, the third seed in the tournament, aims to qualify for the semi-finals in the Australian Championship for the third time in four years, when he meets Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, the strong serving player, who is competing in the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time.
Hurkacz, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021, won his last two matches against Medvedev, and the Russian player is aware of what will await him against the ninth seed in the tournament.
“He serves well,” Medvedev said. It is difficult to block his serve. This will be crucial. “I need to keep my serve strong and not give him a chance to break.”
The shocking exit of Polish Iga Chvontek, the first seed in the tournament, came against the young Czech Linda Noskova, making the competition largely open in the upper half of the draw for the women’s category, and Noskova (19 years old) now hopes to continue her impressive first participation in Melbourne and qualify for the semi-finals. For the first time in the major tournaments.
Noskova will meet in the quarter-finals with Ukrainian Diana Yastremska, who will participate in the tournament through qualifiers, and the match will be the first between them.
Chinese Cheng Qinwen, the last player seeded in the top half of the draw as she is ranked 12th, will meet Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the first match of the evening at Rod Laver Arena, and the duo is seeking to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time in their participation in the four major tournaments.
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