Carlos Alcaraz put together a one-man match against Miomir Kecmanovic and sent a strong message to Novak Djokovic

The Spanish Carlos Alcaraznumber two in the world, reconciled this Monday with his best version to surpass the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the fourth round of Australian Open6-4, 6-4 and 6-0 in just one hour and 49 minutes, and will face the German Alexander Zverev (6) in one of the highlights of the quarterfinals. The German got rid of the British Cameron Norrie (19th) by a very tight 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 and 7-6 (3), after marathon four hours and five minutes of action, in the 32nd match that required all sets and that set a record in the tournament – it surpassed the 31 of 1998 -.

Alcaraz’s overwhelming victory is a declaration of war against Novak Djokovic (1st), who had just marched into the round of 16 with a landslide victory over the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who was only allowed to win three games in a duel without equivalence. The Serbian is the main candidate to win the first Grand Slam of the season thanks to resounding victories that magnify his legendary status.

“I will have my chances if I continue playing like this. Zverev has played long five-set matches. It’s going to be difficult for him physically.“said Alcaraz after the clash in the interview that former American tennis player Jim Courier conducted with him on the same court at the Rod Laver Arena.

The last match between Alcaraz and Zverev in large tournaments, corresponding to the quarterfinals of the US Open, was in favor of the Spaniard, but the German dominates the record with a balance of four wins and three losses.

“I’m feeling better and better every day. It’s a pleasure to play here, it’s a great stadium. In Australia the people are very nice, so I love playing here. I hope to continue feeling better and better”added the 20-year-old.

The Murcian became the seventh Spaniard in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals in a ‘Grand Slam’ seven times. He joined his compatriots Rafael Nadal, Manuel Orantes, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moyá.

Another one advancing in Melbourne is the Russian Daniil Medvedev (3rd), who this time avoided the fifth set and defeated the surprising Portuguese Nuno Borges by 6-3, 7-6(4), 5-7 and 6-1, which allows him to sustain his ambitious dream of reaching number 1 in the world ranking. Of course, the Muscovite does not have it easy, since he must not only keep the title, but he must light candles so that Djokovic and Alcaraz, both with fabulous gait, stumble before the semifinals.

“The third set was very hard on a physical level. He started hitting with all his might any shot of mine that wasn’t so deep. After the third my only one since was that there wasn’t a fifth,” he commented after wasting a 5-2 lead during a third chapter that ended up falling to the Portuguese’s side.

The Muscovite held up well physically despite the demands of his last match against the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori, which lasted until 3:40 in the Australian morning, and got his ticket to the quarterfinals for the third time in a Slam in which he has fallen on two occasions at the gates of the title.

Medvedev lost the 2020 and 2022 finals against Djokovic and Nadal, who withdrew from the tournament due to an untimely tear suffered at the ATP in Brisbane, where he had completed his return to the professional circuit after a long inactivity of 347 days.

The Russian finished the match with 13 aces and 11 double faults, as well as 34 unforced errors that contrasted with the Portuguese’s 66. Borges, however, signed the best Grand Slam of his career at the age of 26, after leaving tennis players of the Spanish caliber on his way to the round of 16. Alexander Davidovich (23°) and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (13°).

Medvedev’s next rival will be the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (9th), who ended the adventure of the revelation of the competition, the French guest Arthur Cazauxwho finished the match with 18 aces.

The Pole, who reached the quarterfinals for the first time in his career at the major oceanic, beat the Frenchman by a tight 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) and 6-4, in a clash held at the John Cain Arena and that lasted two hours and 28 minutes.

Hurkacz and Medvedev have a 3-2 head-to-head in favor of the Pole and a new round will take place this Wednesday at Melbourne Park.