Top seed Carlos Alcaraz won his third round in a convincing 6-1 6-4 6-2, spending just two hours and ten minutes on court with Denis Shapovalov. The Spaniard has dropped just one set in the first week of this French Open. Shapovalov managed to string back-to-back wins together for the first time since the Australian Open, a talented shotmaker but not one likely to trouble Alcaraz on clay.
Smooth sailing for Alcaraz
The 20-year-old started his French Open campaign with a bagel, beating Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli 6-0 6-2 7-5. Alcaraz encountered a bit of adversity against Taro Daniel in the second round. The Spaniard dominated the opening set again, winning it 6-1 but dropping the second 3-6. Alcaraz got back on track though, dropping just three games across the last two sets. Shapovalov battled past Brandon Nakashima in five sets to start before overcoming Matteo Arnaldi.
Alcaraz made another strong start, Shapovalov barely avoiding the first-set bagel as he saved two set points at 0-5 down to get himself on the board before the top seed served it out for 6-1. The Canadian struggled to break Alcaraz’s rhythm on serve or return, winning just 35% of his first-serve point.
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Weathering the Shapovalov storm
Shapovalov saved a break point to hold at the start of the second set and after going 40-0 up on Alcaraz’s serve and losing that lead, he got his first break of the match after a three-deuce game. Alcaraz broke back but failed to consolidate, allowing the free-swinging Shapovalov to take a 4-1 lead in the second. The second set had the highest level and saw the most exciting points of the contest. Alcaraz held for 2-4 and began his comeback, winning five straight games without even having to go to deuce, swinging the almost hour-long second set in his favor 6-4.
Alcaraz broke to start the third set and held but his streak would stop at seven straight games won as Shapovalov saved three break points to hold. The Spaniard’s level and consistency was just too much for Shapovalov though, winning 6-1 6-4 6-2. Awaiting Alcaraz in the fourth round is his peer Lorenzo Musetti, the talented Italian yet to drop a set this week.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
