Alcaraz leaves Paris, but will come back stronger

Carlos Alcaraz’s exciting path at Roland Garros ended this Saturday in the third round. The 18-year-old from Murcia, who had established creditable precocity records in his two previous matches, couldn’t get over Jan-Lennard Struff, a tough and very competitive tennis player, who hardly gave him opportunities to shine and beat him with some forcefulness: 6-4, 7-6 (3) and 6-2 in just over two hours. The 31-year-old German 42nd in the world reached the knockout stages for the second time in the tournament and will face Argentine Diego Schwartzman on Monday, who easily beat another German player, Philipp Kohlschreiber (6-4, 6-2 and 6-1 in 2:02). Carlos (18 years old) was one step away from being the youngest to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam after Andrey Medvedev, who did it with 17 in Paris in 1992. From this experience he comes out with the idea that he can enter the elite, because he already has wickers and he has a huge room for improvement.

Alcaraz found himself with an expert rival and improved over the years to settle among the top 50 in the ranking, good server and feline on the net, who knew how to play patiently in the first set, waiting for the mistakes of the Spanish, who committed 15 unforced in that opening chapter. Both played with few first services, but the Teuton knew how to take advantage of it before to get two breaks ahead. Charly swam to die on the shore, although his effort was not in vain, because he showed his rival that he could react.

However, things did not go well for Alcaraz in the second set, when he lost his serve again. Then, in a fit of rage, he made up lost ground and positioned himself to equalize the game with set point in the eleventh game. He did not convert it, but he had served better, obtained many points with seconds and successfully attacked Struff’s to reach at least one tiebreaker, unfortunately for him it did not favor him.

Pride

The moral blow was hard and Carlos again conceded a break that his rival made good with good serves to place a disheartening 3-0. Then another that already put a heavy 5-0 against and very few options to come back. Still he tried out of pride and to leave with a good taste in his mouth. He is sure to come back stronger.

Results, table and calendar.