Tennis.-Tennis/Roland Garros.- The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz accelerates at Roland Garros to reach the round of 16

The Spaniard dispels doubts with a great match in three sets against Korda

MADRID, 31 (EUROPA PRESS)

The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz destroyed (6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3) the American Sebastian Korda this Friday to add his third victory this week at Roland Garros and reach the round of 16 in the second Grand Slam’ of the season.

The world number three took a step forward after the doubts he left two days ago in the second round against the Dutch Jesper De Jong. With only four games on the dirt tour before Paris, the ones he played in Madrid, the Murcian seemed to be lacking preparation for the assault on his third ‘big game’.

However, after an even start this Friday, Alcaraz accelerated to give himself the chance to grow in the French Open and add a category victory in the night shift of the Philippe Chatrier. Korda made the victory important because he put up a good fight, capable of reacting to a break down two sets.

The one from El Palmar started the game by breaking his rival, but the American, in a rather discreet season, wanted to take advantage of the category clash to raise morale. Korda recovered his serve and hit hard, but from 3-3, Alcaraz made it 6-3 in the first act and 3-1 in the second, with his best level of the year.

However, Korda, who already lost two years ago in Paris against the Spaniard, recovered the ‘break’ and held on until forcing sudden death. There, a couple of balls into the net from the American and an intractable forehand from the Spaniard put the game on the fast track. The Murcian finished unleashing his forehand and repertoire, a strong start to the third set that gave him a decisive early break.

Korda continued to hit with everything and, in desperation, tried to defend himself with a good attack, in a beautiful outcome for the spectator. Despite the night session, the cold, the heavy ball, Alcaraz felt the ball to his liking, put it where he wanted, to regain his status as a favorite in Paris with his ticket to the round of 16.

The one from El Palmar, with a great serve and ease on his forehand after all the doubts about the forearm injury that prevented him from playing in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, will have to wait to meet his next opponent, with the tournament affected by the rain delays on the roofless courts, which will emerge from the duel between the American Ben Shelton and the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.