Thanks to all
Thank you all for joining us in this intense duel with an exciting ending, it has been a pleasure to be with all of you, see you all again!
Carlos Alcaraz already has opponent for the round of 16
The player from Murcia will make his debut in the round of 16 of the Australian Open where he will face Kecmanovic, who has just won in five sets against Tommy Paul.
Comeback Complete ✅@MioKecmanovic saves 2️⃣ match points to defeat 2023 semifinalist Paul 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6(7) 6-0!#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/RM9ztIssy8
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2024
This was the moment when Juncheng Shang withdrew from the meeting.
Alcaraz supera su techo en Melbourne y 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚́𝐬 💪
🚑 Shang se retira por lesión y el español avanza a la segunda semana del @AusOpen por primera vez.
1️⃣ 1️⃣ 0️⃣
6️⃣ 6️⃣ 1️⃣
🔜 En octavos espera Miomir Kecmanovic.#AusOpen | #AusOpenEurosport pic.twitter.com/NR9imo3o53 — Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) January 20, 2024
3º Set Alcaraz (6-1 6-1 1-0) Juncheng Shang
JUNCHENG SHANG RETIRES. The Chinese tennis player says enough in this third set and will not finish the match because of his physical problems.
Therefore, Carlos Alcaraz qualifies to the round of 16 where he has been far superior in which the Chinese player has not been able to hold in those exchanges. For the first time the Spaniard will be in the second week of the Australian Open.
3º Set Alcaraz (6-1 6-1 1-0) Juncheng Shang
BREAKS THE SERVE! The third set starts with a break for Carlos Alcaraz, who only needs to close the match.
The dance floor dances and Alcaraz has a great time
🕺 Vamos Carlos sal a bailar, que tú lo haces fenomenal.#AusOpen | #AusOpenEurosport pic.twitter.com/KZkPQn4vM3 — Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) January 20, 2024
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 6-1) Juncheng Shang
SET! The world number 2 closes the game in white to win his second set.
Once again, Carlos is much better and he is one set away from the round of 16. While Juncheng Shang is having problems both physical and game level, because he can not find a way to hurt the opponent.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 5-1) Juncheng Shang
40-0. Three set balls for the Spaniard.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 5-1) Juncheng Shang
BREAKS THE SERVICE! The Chinese player's ball goes too long and Alcaraz will serve to close the second set.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 4-1) Juncheng Shang
15-40. Shang returns without bandage to the court, but with problems to the rest. Another two break balls for Alcaraz.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 4-1) Juncheng Shang
With forehands, winners ... What a blows of Alcaraz, who confirms the break with white game. And attention because they are going to assist Juncheng Shang, with physical problems.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 3-1) Juncheng Shang
BREAKS THE SERVICE! Good rest of the tennis player from El Palmar to take the lead in this second set.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 2-1) Juncheng Shang
40-A. The number 2 holds more rallies and gets the first break point of this second set.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 2-1) Juncheng Shang
He can not return the remains clearly the Chinese, because it is being placed very far. That is taking advantage of the Spanish, who does not suffer with the service.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 1-1) Juncheng Shang
After seven games in a row, Juncheng Shang returns to add a game, his second of the match. He does so after coming back from a game down 0-30.
2º Set Alcaraz (6-1 1-0) Juncheng Shang
Juncheng Shang, who is suffering and has made numerous unforced errors, is not holding his own in the exchanges.
This is how Carlos Alcaraz closed the first set
✈️ 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘆, 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗼...
Carlos Alcaraz se apunta el primer set por 6-1 en menos de media hora.#AusOpen | #AusOpenEurosport pic.twitter.com/cvYxBIEqX1 — Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) January 20, 2024
1º Set Alcaraz (6-1) Juncheng Shang
SET!!! He did not close the first set in his first set ball, but in the second one.
He needed 28 minutes to close the first set where he overcame his rival Carlos Alcaraz.
1º Set Alcaraz (5-1) Juncheng Shang
0-40. The Chinese tennis player does not hold the rallies and three set balls for Alcaraz!
1º Set Alcaraz (5-1) Juncheng Shang
Blank game of the world number 2, who for now does not yield with the service. He will rest in search of the first set
1º Set Alcaraz (4-1) Juncheng Shang
BREAKS THE SERVICE! Second break of the Murcian who is being far superior in the first set.
1º Set Alcaraz (3-1) Juncheng Shang
40-A. Fifth break point for the Spaniard in this break.
1º Set Alcaraz (3-1) Juncheng Shang
40-40. He had the fourth break point, but Shang saved it.
1º Set Alcaraz (3-1) Juncheng Shang
40-40. Too hasty the Spaniard and Shang saves them all.
1º Set Alcaraz (3-1) Juncheng Shang
0-40. Another three break balls for Carlos Alcaraz.
1º Set Alcaraz (3-1) Juncheng Shang
Very good forehands of Alcaraz, playing from the bottom to confirm the break. This first set is going well for him
1º Set Alcaraz (2-1) Juncheng Shang
BREAKS SERVE! The world number 2 gets the break very soon. It could not be with the first one because the ball stayed in the net, but with the second one.
1º Set Alcaraz (1-1) Juncheng Shang
15-40. Alcaraz's lob, who has his first two breaking balls;
1º Set Alcaraz (1-1) Juncheng Shang
Chinese tennis player scores his first points with the rest, but Alcaraz gets off to a good start with his serve.
The moment when they jumped onto the center court.
Super Saturday action continues 🪩 You ready?!@emirates • #walkon • #flybetter @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/RzJjDFjAbU — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2024
1º Set Alcaraz (0-1) Juncheng Shang
The first point of the match went to the Chinese, although he could not put the rest Alcarz
Juncheng Shang serves
Carlos Alcaraz will start the rest
They are already on the court
Both tennis players have taken to the court to warm up before the start of the match.
Alcaraz, looking for his first round of the last 16
The former world No. 1 has never played in the round of 16 of the first Grand Slam of the year. Last year he was unable to play this tournament due to injury, in 2022 he fell in the third round and in 2021 in the second round.
Juncheng Shang makes his debut in the third round of a Grand Slam
The young Chinese tennis player will play for the first time in the third round of a Grand Slam, beating his best record, which was to reach the second round precisely in the Australian Open
Alcaraz undefeated against players who are outside the top-100
12 times the player from Murcia has had to face players outside the top-100 in the Grand Slam draw and he has won all of them, although it is true that he has also dropped sets.
WE RETURN
In a few minutes the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Juncheng Shang will kick off, and you can follow the match in real time here on VAVEL.
Stay tuned for more information about Carlos Alcaraz vs Juncheng Shang
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Order of play for Saturday, January 20
These are the matches we will have on the center court, the Rod Laver Arena
Carlos Alcaraz reaches 200 games
The Spanish tennis player after his match against Lorenzo Sonego played his 200th match on the circuit. The balance is very positive in 157 wins, 43 losses, 12 titles and two Grand Slams.
Other tennis legends such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or his compatriot Rafa Nadal had reached 200 matches.
How Carlos Alcaraz's first 200 matches on the Tour stack up against the greats 💪 pic.twitter.com/BmWU9xhAYO
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 18, 2024
News - Juncheng Shang
The 18-year-old Chinese tennis player is ranked number 140 in the world. A left-handed tennis player who has been a professional since 20121.
He was already last year in the Asian tour where he lost in the first round of the ATP Zhuhai, Beijing and Shanghai. One of his best victories of his career has been beating the American Ben Shelton, world number 16 at this moment in the ATP Washington.
Thanks to a Wild Card he is playing the Australian Open, where he is being one of the surprises in this Grand Slam. In the first round he defeated the American McDonald, world number 42, in five sets after 3 hours and 26 minutes. In the second round he defeated Nagal in four sets where he had to come back, because he lost the first set. Now he will try to write history and do something epic, eliminating Carlos Alcaraz.
News - Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz had a good 2023, who at only 20 years old, despite his doubtful ending, has achieved 65 victories, 12 losses and six titles.
He reached the semifinals of Roland Garros where cramps prevented him from finishing the match with a competitive pace against Novak Djokovic. After this he won the ATP London and took revenge on the Serbian by lifting Wimbledon in a historic final. He was surprised at his start on the hard court after losing in the quarterfinals against the American Paul. In Cincinnati he reached the final, but again ran into Novak Djokovic. In the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, he fell in the semifinals against Daniil Medvedev and was unable to retain the title. He began the Asian tour by losing in the semifinals against the Italian Sinner at the China Open and in Shanghai he lost in the round of 16 against Dmitrov. He did not do much better at the Paris Masters 1000, since in his first match he lost to the Russian, Safiullin. Despite his bad start in the ATP Final, he reached the semifinals, but there he ran into the world number 1 and was left out.
He is looking to have a good 2024 and of course dream of finishing at the top of the ATP ranking. Although he will have great adversaries. This is the third time he has played the Australian Open, after being absent last year. In 2021 he reached the second round and in 2022 he was eliminated in the third round. In this edition he will seek to take a step forward and be in the second week for the first time.
He started in Melbourne by defeating Richard Gasquet in three sets. Already in the second round he lost a set against Lorenzo Sonego, although the good feelings continue
Background
This will be the first time that Carlos Alcaraz and Juncheng Shang will face each other in a match and they will do it in a Grand Slam.
The Stadium
The match will be played at the Rod Laver Arena, located in Melbourne, which was inaugurated in 1988 and has a capacity for 14820 spectators.
Preview of the match
Carlos Alcaraz and Juncheng Shang will meet this Saturday, January 20, 2024 in the match of the third round of the Australian Open.
Welcome to VAVEL.COM's coverage of Carlos Alcaraz vs Juncheng Shang at Australian Open
My name is Manuel Carmona Hidalgo and I will be your host for this match. We will provide you with pre-match analysis and news here on VAVEL.