Alcaraz responds to Borges' burst, returns to Aussie Open fourth round

With five of the top 11 seeds out of the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz continued to move through the Melbourne field on Friday. Playing in Rod Laver Arena for the first time this fortnight, the Spaniard advanced past Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, delivering a swift and emphatic response after dropping his first set of the tournament.

"I missed Rod Laver. I'm just really, really happy to be able to play here once again," Alcaraz said post-match. "I tried to show my best tennis here. For me, it has been a pleasure every time that I step on this court... The last time that I played here I lost [to Alexander Zverev in the 2024 quarter-finals], so I really wanted to play here and get another win here in Rod Laver."

Through to the Aussie Open fourth round for the second time in four appearances, Alcaraz is bidding to become the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam in men's singles history. In a tournament that has been dominated by youth — including three #NextGenATP stars knocking out Top 10 opponents — the 21-year-old Alcaraz can become the youngest champion at the hard-court major since Novak Djokovic (20) in 2008.

Simply Carlos 💥@carlosalcaraz | @AustralianOpen | #AusOpen

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— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 17, 2025

A break in the opening game set the tone against World No. 33 Borges, with Alcaraz dominant on serve from the start. The Spaniard lost just six points on serve in each of the first two sets, according to Infosys Stats, and also converted nine of his first 11 net points.

Borges continued to battle in a competitive third set, which sparked to life during a marathon hold for 4-3 in which he saved two break points and won a thrilling exchange that saw Alcaraz lay out for a backhand volley. Despite rueing a missed return on set point at 5-6, 30/40, Borges was the aggressor against an erratic Alcaraz in the tie-break and deservingly forced a fourth set.

Instantly stemming the tide, Alcaraz sandwiched a break between two love holds to start the fourth set. In a match full of highlight-reel points, Alcaraz claimed the crucial break in style with a hooking forehand passing shot after tracking down a lob. Racing through the finish line, he lost just one point on serve in the final set.

"I'm just happy to see a full crowd here watching my matches," Alcaraz said of his show-stopping tennis. "It's just a privilege to feel this love here in Australia, in the other part of the world. I'm trying to play different tennis, some different kinds of shots. That's what makes me enjoy playing tennis, what makes me smile on court and helps me to show really good tennis — and try to entertain the people as well, making them happy."

With his second Lexus ATP Head2Head defeat to Alcaraz, Borges was stopped short in his attempt to return to the fourth round for the second straight year at the Australian Open. He reached that stage at both hard-court majors last year for his joint-best major results.

Next up for Alcaraz is a fourth-round meeting with Jack Draper or Aleksandar Vukic. Beyond that, he could face record 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in a potential quarter-final that has been circled since the draw came out.

While the Spaniard can pass Zverev for No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings with a deep run this fortnight, neither Alcaraz nor Zverev can move within 1,000 PIF ATP Ranking points of defending champion and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.