Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz Ease Past Miomir Kecmanovic to reach first quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz raced past Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 on Monday night in Melbourne to seal a quarter-final berth for the first time at the hard-court major.

The 20-year-old Spanish player clinched the only break in each of the opening two sets inside Rod Laver Arena before producing some scintillating baseline hitting in the third to wrap a comprehensive one-hour, 49-minute triumph.

“I’m feeling better and better every day,” said Alcaraz in his on-court interview. “Every match that I play here in Rod Laver Arena, I’m feeling more comfortable. Obviously, it is a pleasure to play here. It’s an amazing court, a beautiful one.

“I enjoy playing here and showing my best level. It feels like home, which is always great, so I hope to keep feeling better and better every day.”

With his impressive triumph, Alcaraz maintained the pressure on Novak Djokovic in the battle for World No. 1. The Spaniard trails Djokovic by 200 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings after joining the top-seeded Serbian in the quarter-finals.

Alcaraz has dropped just one set so far on his third appearance at the Australian Open, where he missed the 2023 edition due to injury.

The Spaniard’s next opponent at Melbourne Park will be Alexander Zverev, who earlier overcame Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10-3).

Men’s Singles Quarter Finals:

[1] Novak Djokovic vs. [12] Taylor Fritz

[4] Jannik Sinner vs. [5] Andrey Rublev

[3] Daniil Medvedev vs. [9] Hubert Hurkacz

[2] Carlos Alcaraz vs. [6] Alexander Zverev