Carlos Alcaraz faced a tough challenge in his comeback match at the Argentina Open on clay. After his defeat in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, the world No. 2 and defending champion showed his superiority against qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli, winning the match 6-2, 7-5.
However, Ugo Carabelli, a favorite among the home crowd, showcased impressive shot-making skills and came close to pushing the match into a deciding set. In the end, Alcaraz managed to secure victory by winning nine out of the last ten points.
Alcaraz will next play another qualifier, Andrea Vavassori.
“It was a really tough match,” said Alcaraz.
“He’s a really good fighter, a really good player, good rhythm. He was really tough to beat.
“I started really nervous, I’m not going to lie, with the crowd behind him, supporting him. I think it’s normal, obviously, but really happy with my first match on clay since Roland-Garros. Hopefully [I can] keep going better and better.”
Alcaraz appears to be the frontrunner to defend his championship in Buenos Aires.
This is particularly true since the second seed, Cameron Norrie, who reached the final last year, was eliminated in the second round.
However, Alcaraz faced some challenges in the early stages of his match against Ugo Carabelli. The match began with four consecutive breaks of serve.
Ugo Carabelli took a 2-1 lead in an impressive manner with a passing shot down the line. However, Alcaraz quickly responded and secured his first hold with a powerful forehand down the line.
As the match progressed, Alcaraz showcased his versatility with a variety of hitting techniques and drop shots, allowing him to dominate and win the set.
Despite this, Ugo Carabelli displayed great determination and managed to break Alcaraz at the beginning of the second set.
The fourth game of the set turned into a lengthy battle, with the Argentine saving six break points. Eventually, Alcaraz’s strong hitting skills brought him back to a 2-2 tie.
The second set, lasting as long as the first at 30 minutes, followed a similar pattern as Alcaraz increased the intensity of his shots and took the lead.
The second-ranked player in the world displayed exceptional skill during the match. He executed a remarkable lob when forced into a difficult position and effectively utilized the drop shot to gain a 5-2 advantage.
However, Ugo Carabelli also showcased impressive shots of his own and managed to break Alcaraz’s serve when he was serving for the match.
Carabelli celebrated by twirling his racquet as the crowd cheered him on, and he swiftly executed a drop shot, defeating Alcaraz with a shot down the line.
Ugo Carabelli managed to save a second match point and even the score at 5-5. However, he was unable to break Alcaraz’s serve despite having a 0-40 advantage.
On the other hand, Alcaraz capitalized on the opportunity and broke Carabelli’s serve without losing a single point, securing the victory.
