Australian Open: facing Zverev Alcaraz offers himself a first big test

Will he do it again at Wimbledon? Last summer, the 20-year-old prodigy approached the big London event on grass without many guidelines. This did not prevent him from lifting the trophy against the master of the place Novak Djokovic. Same scenario in Melbourne? The Spaniard, who withdrew last year due to injury, suffered early eliminations during his first two appearances. But, as we know, Alcaraz learns very quickly. “It's likely the process will be similar with a court I haven't played much on, Rod Laver Arena. All I can say is I haven't thought about it, but it could be the same thing. With each match, I feel better and better on a court that I don't know. I hope it will be the same as at Wimbledon. »

Djokovic's runner-up is playing his first quarter in Australia this Wednesday. Waiting for better. Before dreaming of a third coronation in a Grand Slam after the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023, the kid from Murcia will have to get rid of the giant Alexander Zverev. The 26-year-old German is playing the third quarter-final of his career in Melbourne, where he has only reached the semi-finals once, in 2020. The two men are starting to know each other well. Advantage “Sasha” Zverev, who won four of their seven duels, including the last in the group stage of the Masters in November 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4.

And as at Roland-Garros 2022 and the US Open last year, the two men find themselves in the quarter-finals. Porte d'Auteuil, the German had the last word against the prodigy from Murcia. In New York last year, the Spaniard took his revenge by mastering the German without really trembling (6-3, 6-2, 6-4). It must be said that Zverev, who fell in Sinner's previous round in 4:30, didn't have much energy left to face the Spaniard... Same story in Melbourne? As in the second round against Lukas Klein, Alexander Zverev won in the round of 16 against Cameron Norrie in the super tie-break. The Hamburg native still had to draw on his reserves, but he assures: “I'm not like at the US Open where I was completely dead and felt like I was physically exhausted. I'm tired, sure, but I'm not dead and not completely exhausted. I'm not in the same physical state as at the US Open. I expect it to be very different, to be honest.”

A quieter route to Alcaraz. With art and style, the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero dispatched Miomir Kecmanovic (6-4, 6-4, 6-0) in less than two hours in the round of 16. The double Grand Slam winner (US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023) has clearly gained momentum, having only let one set escape against Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. Make way for Zverev. Another challenge: “I love playing against him. It's always a tough fight. I have to play at my best. He pushes me to play 100% every time. The last time we faced each other, I lost. So I have to concentrate on this point and raise my level.”