December 22, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz survived an inspired effort from Argentine qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli to escape with a straight-sets win on Thursday at the IEB+ Argentina Open.
The 21-year-old Spaniard who last feature since his quarter finals exist at the Australian Open defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-2, 7-5 to reach the next round in Buenos Aires as he aimed towards a successful title defence.
Alcaraz missed out on two match points in the second set before winning the final two games of the match at the ATP 250.
The top seed in Argentina comfortably moved through the gears early on, coming from behind in both sets as he recalibrated his game in his first clay-court appearance of 2024. But from 2-5 in the second, Ugo Carabelli roared back with his aggressive tactics. After saving a match point at both 5-3 and 5-4, the Argentine created a 0/40 opening at 5-5 before Alcaraz won nine of the final 10 points to seal the win.
“It’s been a really tough match. He’s a really good fighter, a really good player, good rhythm. He was really tough to beat in the match, playing my game,” Alcaraz said post-match.
“I started really nervous, I’m not going to lie, with the crowd behind him, supporting him. I think it’s normal, obviously, but really happy with my first match on clay since Roland Garros. Hopefully [I can] keep going better and better.”
Through to the quarter-finals, he will next meet qualifier Andrea Vavassori after the Italian’s 6-4, 7-5 upset of seventh seed Laslo Djere.
Earlier at the ATP 250, Argentina’s Federico Coria knocked out second seed and returning finalist Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. By earning his fourth Top 20 win (and first since 2022), the home favourite advanced to his 12th tour-level quarter-final. For Norrie, it was just his second defeat in his past 14 opening-round matches on clay.
Coria will next meet countryman Sebastian Baez after the fifth seed beat Cordoba champion Luciano Darderi 6-4, 7-5, ending the Italian’s six-match winning streak.
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