Alcaraz matches best Australian Open result with resilient Sonego win

Carlos Alcaraz fended off an inspired performance by Lorenzo Sonego to dismiss the Italian in four sets on Thursday at the Australian Open. The Spaniard matched his best Melbourne result by reaching the third round with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3. 7-6(3) win in what was his 200th tour-level match.

"I'm really happy with my performance today. I think both of us played such a great level, high intensity," Alcaraz said of their display in windy conditions. "Even if I lost the second set, I think I played a good game. We put on a show, both of us, making good points and some hot shots as well. It was a great match."

Now 157-43 in his young career, the 20-year-old has reached the semi-finals or better at each of the other three Grand Slam tournaments. In his third AO appearance, Alcaraz awaits wild card Shang Juncheng or qualifier Sumit Nagal for a Saturday showdown.

Alcaraz controlled the early action against Sonego in Rod Laver Arena, but found himself level at one set all despite not facing a break point in the first two sets. The Italian summoned his best tennis in the second-set tie-break to outplay the World No. 2, winning several points at net with an aggressive surge to snatch the set.

Displaying the hallmarks of great champions like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in recent years, Alcaraz used the adversity to raise his game. Hitting with renewed conviction from the baseline, he immediately answered by racing to a 3-0 lead in the third set, which he cruised through in 36 minutes.

The competitors traded breaks early in the fourth and continued to trade blows throughout the set. A few games after Sonego's delicate drop volley thwarted a thumped tweener from Alcaraz, the Spaniard found the line with a daring backhand after being dragged well wide of the doubles alley. Those fireworks set the stage for another tie-break, which Alcaraz won behind a powerful finishing surge to close out the match after three hours, 25 minutes.

We see it but we don't believe it 🤯@carlosalcaraz x Lorenzo Sonego@AustralianOpen | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lWjd2wyxf6

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 18, 2024

Sonego won the lone previous Lexus ATP Head2Head matchup between the pair in Cincinnati, but that meeting came in 2021 when Alcaraz was outside the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Seeded second as the World No. 2 in Melbourne, Alcaraz could reclaim No. 1 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.

Sonego, who was part of the Italian team that won the Davis Cup trophy to close 2023, was bidding for his first Top 5 win at a Grand Slam. Instead, his defeat extended his losing streak against Top 5 players to six at tour-level.