Alcaraz achieves with more difficulties than expected his first victory in the Count of God

After his losses to Sousa in 2019 and Tiafoe in 2021, the ATP number 11 defeats the Korean Kwon (6-1, 2-6, 6-2) and will face Munar in the round of 16.

All the haste to force Carlos Alcaraz With his impeccable start to the match, he calmly and thoughtfully tried to understand how his side had gone from 6-1, 2-0 to a one-set tie, after conceding a 0-6 run. The Spaniard was called to dispel the doubts that arose after his unexpected defeat against Sebastian Korda at the debut in Monte Carlo. Soon-Woo Kwon, the Korean who was lucky for him, was not an ideal reference to check how he had assimilated the stumble in the Principality; in the first three games, although he had to overcome a break ball, Alcaraz already made clear the distance between the two. What was unexpected was Kwon’s reaction, he already set down and gave up a break In a second. Espabil Alcaraz and his rival did not reach him with the flood: 6-1, 2-6 and 6-2 he won in one hour and 33 minutes the fourth seed, which will be measured this Thursday with Jaume Munar for a place in quarters.

His explosive start to the season has put all eyes on the evolution of Alcaraz. Winner of the Rio de Janeiro ATP, he later won his first Masters 1000 in Miami, previously facing Nadal in the Indian Wells semi-finals. Absent the Mallorcan, 12 times champion of the tournament that now concerns us, the Murcian captures much of the love and enthusiasm of the fans in Barcelona.

initial monologue

A Kwon, 71, champion last year at the ATP 250 in Astana and winner of Benoit Pair In the first round of God, he had to attend an initial monologue of early vindication of the Spanish, who ruled the match with insulting authority until the radical change of the second set. Perhaps it was due to a certain relaxation of Alcaraz, who saw the victory in hand, but it should not be underestimated how Kwon let go, who, from nowhere and with everything almost lost, increased the risks.

Alcaraz lost in 2019 to Pedro Sousa in the previous phase and did it again last year before Frances Tiafoe already in the first round of the final table. At 18 years old, after the acceleration in the last season, he signs his first victory in a tournament where he is one of the candidates to get what would be the third title of his career.

Alcaraz has faced Munar twice: he lost in 2021 in the semifinals of the ATP 250 in Marbella by 7-6 (4) and 6-4 and won this year in the round of 16 in Rio by 2-6, 6-2 and 6 -one.