Carlos Alcaraz ate to Thanasi Kokkinakis in an hour and a quarter. The Spaniard, 19 years old and world number 2, devoured the Australian, 26 years old and number 94, coming from the previous phase of this Masters 1000 ATP in Indian Wells.
If Nick Kyrgios’s bosom friend and doubles partner has a reputation as a ‘cannonman’ based on his 1.93-meter height, in his first duel against the Murcian he will have verified that his arsenal minimizes the biggest giant.
Review of Alcaraz to Kokkinakis, 6-3 and 6-3 in a breath. the pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero He soon got a ticket for the third round match with the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoorexecutioner of the Argentine Guido Pella by 7-6 (3) and 7-6 (4).
Among the overflowing talent of Alcaraz, his ability to fully return to the track after an injury begins to stand out, either after 102 days without competing, as happened before he chained the title in Buenos Aires and the final in Rio de Janeiro , or a week out of competition due to the strain he suffered in the hamstring of his right leg, which cost him to renew the trophy in Brazil and withdraw from Acapulco.
Alcaraz, a practically perfect set
As if there had been no impediment, Alcaraz burst into Stadium 1 of Tennis Paradise activated and accurate. He demolished his opponent in a nearly perfect first set. He won his first 15 points with serve, he only gave up one point with it, he took 20 of 21, with four scoreless games.
And with the ‘break’ in the second game he established the differences against a Kokkinakis timorous, unable to find a way to score points. The slow conditions of Indian Wells enhanced the characteristics of the Spaniard, with time to settle well on the ground and display all his arm strength, a natural punch that he can with everything.
Untouchable with the serve, safe and loose, Alcaraz walked very confidently through the second set, which he made his own without any major difficulties. 21 winners and 14 unforced errors, 37 of 44 points on serve. A pim-pam-pum full of self-confidence. In only the third tournament of the year, his first meeting on a hard court.
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He took a first step towards the recovery of world number one, which involves winning a tournament in which he was a semifinalist twelve months ago. With the trophy in his hands he would snatch the lead from the absent Novak Djokovic.
It is a mathematical option, which keeps in mind the always ambitious Carlos Alcaraz, who in the next few hours will focus on Tallon Griekspoor, 26 years old and No. 36 ATP. The one from El Palmar won Wimbledon 2022 by 6-4, 7-6 and 6-3. In 2021, he shared the triumphs in rounds of previous phases: he beat Charly in Estoril, 6-1 and 6-3, he had lost indoors in Montpellier 4-6, 6-3 and 6-1.
Alcaraz: “I have enjoyed a lot”
Alcaraz has the game once physically recovered: “I have not felt any pain in the leg, and if I can move well I can hit the right where I want,” he explained.
“I’ve had a lot of fun, which is what I want to do throughout the tournament. I played at a high level. I like these conditions, a little slower than other hard court tournaments,” he analyzed.
Thanasi Kokkinakis, surpassed by Carlos Alcaraz
