Carlos Alcaraz delivered a masterclass in entertaining tennis as he progressed smoothly into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday. The world number one secured a straight-sets victory over Corentin Moutet, treating the Rod Laver Arena crowd to a spectacular exhibition of audacious shot-making and flair.
An Exhibition of Flair and Trick Shots
The match transformed into a captivating display of creativity, with both players embracing their flamboyant styles. Alcaraz and Moutet engaged in a thrilling exchange of tweeners, delicate drop shots, and strategic lobs that kept spectators thoroughly entertained throughout.
Moutet, known for his similar approach to the game, even surprised observers with consecutive underarm serves early in the second set. The Frenchman's resilience was evident when he rallied from 3-0 down to claim four consecutive games, briefly causing Alcaraz's characteristic smile to fade.
Alcaraz Reflects on Unpredictable Encounter
Despite the challenging nature of facing such an unpredictable opponent, Alcaraz maintained his perfect record of not dropping a set in the tournament. The Spaniard acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for Moutet's unconventional style.
"It wasn't easy when you play someone like Corentin, you don't know what's going to be next," Alcaraz admitted after the match. "That's really difficult but I had so much fun on the court. I think we both pulled off great shots, great points, there were a few highlights. I'm just grateful to play these type of matches."
Alcaraz humorously recounted his experience with Moutet's persistent drop shots, joking with his team about the frequency of his net approaches. "I said to my team, 'I'm not going to run for another drop shot. I've been to the net like 55 times, oh my God'. I thought we were in a drop shot competition, but definitely he won."
Looking Ahead to Fourth Round Challenge
With his 6-2 6-4 6-1 victory secured, Alcaraz now prepares to face 19th seed Tommy Paul in the next round. Paul advanced after his opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired while trailing significantly.
Medvedev and Tien Set for Another Epic Clash
Meanwhile, another compelling fourth-round matchup has been confirmed between three-time former finalist Daniil Medvedev and young American Learner Tien. The pair have developed a notable rivalry through three previous encounters that Tien describes as "wars."
Tien, who famously defeated Medvedev in the second round of last year's Australian Open, expressed his anticipation for their latest meeting. "I think it's pretty crazy that we end up playing here again a year later. I'm looking forward to it," he said.
The American elaborated on their competitive dynamic: "We've played three times. All of them have been wars. I think we both make a lot of balls. We both don't give up too many free points. I think naturally that makes the rallies very long, games very long."
Medvedev's Comeback and Preparation
Medvedev arrives at this match having already surpassed his Grand Slam victory total from last year. The Russian demonstrated remarkable resilience in his previous round, fighting back from two sets down to overcome Fabian Marozsan in a five-set thriller.
Reflecting on the prospect of facing Tien again, Medvedev revealed he had been aware of the American's progress during his own match. "During the match they showed the scores. Usually I don't look on TVs or something. This time, I glimpsed. This moment, they were, like, 'Tien, three sets'. I thought, 'OK'. And I was two sets to love down," he explained.
Medvedev added with characteristic candor: "If I win this one, it's going to be five sets. It's going to be very tough, and then I have Learner. But it's OK'. The thing is that I kind of don't like to play him, but he must hate to play me as well."
The former champion concluded with a strategic outlook: "I'm going to try to enjoy the game of tennis. Of course, try to do my best to maybe surprise him somewhere."
