Last Updated on February 16, 2022
A good performance for being his first clay-court match of the 2022 season. After the defeat in the third round with the Italian Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz is back on court in Rio de Janeiro to take part in the Atp 500 tournament in Brazil.
The Spanish tennis player had to work harder than expected to regulate his compatriot Jaume Munar, however, getting the important affirmation at the debut with a final score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Several difficulties for the player born in 2003, who was able to react properly from the second part onwards and did not get further surprised, taking the pass for the eighth round.
He will now meet the Argentine Federico Delbonis at ATP Rio de Janeiro, certainly not to be underestimated.
At the end of the match, the talented 18-year-old was at the press conference to comment on the victory, which was very hard: “Jaume is at a very good level, I have already seen and verified his results during this South American tour.
I knew in advance that it was going to be a very tough match and I’m very happy with the way I played, being my first match on clay” he underlined. All the problems he had during the challenge: “At the beginning of the second set I missed three shots in quick succession, it was a moment when I completely lost control.
I started thinking about playing point by point and that was the key. I started serving much better, Jaume was playing very well. It was really tough, a very tight match,” he added about the match.
This is Carlos Alcaraz’s second time competing in the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and he loves the atmosphere at the tournament.
“This tournament is incredible, it’s a pleasure to play in front of the Brazilian fans. I didn’t expect the crowd to be so supportive, I felt at home. It’s hard to have a feeling like this when you are really so far away from home”.
Carlos Alcaraz is competing at the Rio tournament without his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, so he is a bit unaccustomed.
“I don’t know what he will tell me (laughing). I imagine he would be very nervous at the beginning of the game, he would start talking a lot.
It’s a bit strange to be in a tournament without him, but I imagine he will be happy with the success,” he concluded.
