Alcaraz reaches AO 4th round for first time after Shang retires

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Carlos Alcaraz laid down a marker on Saturday at the Australian Open, where he led Chinese star Shang Juncheng 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 before the 18-year-old retired due to injury.

In his 201st tour-level match, the 20-year-old Alcaraz was facing a younger opponent for the first time and was in a ruthless mood on Rod Laver Arena to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time.

Shang, who played nine sets across his first two matches, entered the clash with his upper right thigh strapped and received treatment on the injury during the second set. The World No. 140 struggled with his movement at times and Alcaraz exploited the issue by pulling Shang from corner to corner for 66 minutes.

Alcaraz won 86 per cent (18/21) of his first-serve points and did not face a break point to set a fourth-round meeting with Miomir Kecmanovic.

"I'm feeling great," Alcaraz said. "Probably a seven or eight [out of 10]. It's a high note. But that's how I feel. I think I'm improving every day. Every match that I'm playing, I'm feeling better and better. Moving, hitting the ball, and, of course, I'm getting used to this court as well.

"I didn't play so much on this court. I think everything is good. I am taking good things from the court, from the level that I'm playing. Hopefully it's going to be better and better."

Alcaraz won the the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023, with his best result at Roland Garros a semi-final showing last year. He has now advanced to the last 16 in all four majors.

Seeded second as the World No. 2 in Melbourne, Alcaraz could reclaim No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Novak Djokovic this fortnight. Should the rivals meet in the Australian Open final, the title match would double as a straight shootout for the top spot.

Serbian iron man Kecmanovic saved two match points for the second consecutive match to knock out 2023 semi-finalist Tommy Paul and reach the second week in Melbourne for the second time in three years.

The 24-year-old defeated German 24th seed Jan-Lennard Struff 11-9 in a fifth-set match tie-break in the second round before coming from behind Saturday to defeat 14th-seed Paul 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-0.