4 months ago
2
An ominous Carlos Alcaraz wasted small vigor successful his 100th Grand Slam lucifer to expanse into the past 16 of the Australian Open connected Friday (January 23, 2026) with a straight-sets mauling of French showman Corentin Moutet.
The 22-year-old six-time large victor was astatine a antithetic level connected Rod Laver Arena to publication his transition 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 successful 2hrs 5mins.
Victory thrust him into a clash for a spot successful the quarter-finals with American 19th effect Tommy Paul, who progressed erstwhile Spanish hostile Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired hurt.
Alcaraz has ne'er gone past the past 8 successful his 4 erstwhile trips to Melbourne Park, with the Australian Open the lone Grand Slam missing from his burgeoning collection.
He volition go the youngest antheral to triumph each 4 majors should helium propulsion connected and marque his breakthrough.
“It wasn’t easy. To beryllium honest, erstwhile you play idiosyncratic similar Corentin you don’t cognize what’s going to beryllium next,” said the Spaniard.
“So that’s truly difficult, you know, to attack the match. But I had amusive connected the court. I deliberation we some pulled disconnected large shots, large points.”
The triumph against Moutet came successful his 100th Slam lucifer with Alcaraz having a singular 87-13 win-loss grounds -- matching the legendary Bjorn Borg astatine the aforesaid signifier of his career.
Left-hander Moutet had ne'er beaten a satellite fig 1 and ne'er looked similar doing truthful connected centre court.
Top effect Alcaraz was rapidly into his stride, breaking Moutet successful the opening crippled earlier holding for 2-0.
The Frenchman got into cogwheel with a clasp successful the 3rd game, but was mostly a bystander arsenic Alcaraz raced done the acceptable successful 35 minutes.
An contiguous interruption for Alcaraz acceptable the code for the 2nd set. But Moutet reeled disconnected 4 consecutive games from 0-3 down, throwing successful immoderate underarm serves, dropshots and tweeners for bully measure.
Alcaraz steadied and took the acceptable earlier hardly breaking a sweat successful the third.
