The second seed, with aspirations to dethrone the 10-time champion Novak Djokovic from the world number one spot, faced a tight first set but swiftly elevated his game in the subsequent sets, demonstrating his prowess on the court.
Expressing his satisfaction, Alcaraz mentioned the positive feeling of being back in Melbourne. Despite not advancing beyond the third round in his previous two visits, his strong start in this tournament suggests a potential breakthrough for the talented young player.
“In the first set I struggled a little with his game,” he said. “He was playing great but I played better and better and at the end I reached quite a good level.”
The Spaniard admitted he sometimes tries to play “impossible shots”, including volleys and dropshots, to please his fans.
Wearing a sleeveless yellow T-shirt, the two-time Grand Slam winner faced a challenging first set where he missed nine break-point opportunities. However, he remained in control on his own serve, and the set was ultimately decided in a tight tie-break. Alcaraz, in his first match of the season, capitalised on his first set point, securing the set with a forehand winner at the net.
The Wimbledon champion, who had to miss the previous year’s Australian Open due to injury, showcased his dominance in the second set, breezing through it in just 30 minutes. He broke Gasquet’s serve twice and displayed a diverse range of shot-making skills.
The pattern continued in the third set, with Gasquet, aged 37, occasionally revealing his rare talent but ultimately being outplayed by the 17-year younger Alcaraz.
Despite a brief delay when serving for the match, Alcaraz secured victory with an ace, expressing gratitude to the enthusiastic crowd at a vibrant Rod Laver Arena.
His next challenge will be against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the upcoming round.
(With AFP inputs)
