Juggling and luxury under the gaze of Gaby Sabatini: the pearls of Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph on his debut at the Argentine Open

One of the most anticipated premieres of the Argentina Open and it was the presentation of the world number two, Carlos Alcarazwhat a victory Laszlo Djere (57th) by 6-2, 4-6 and 6-2 on Center Court Guillermo Villas of Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club (BALTC). In front of 5,000 people who applauded him, the 19-year-old Spaniard imposed his hierarchy on the Serb who resisted him in the second set. The local audience was able to appreciate one of the best tennis players on the planet today and the last winner of the US Open.

A night where the heat took a break with around 26 degrees, the day before the Argentinian public sold out the tickets to see Alcaraz live and live, but they also enjoyed a good game since Djere was a worthy rival and He is even came to steal one of the three sets because of his game and some inattention from the Iberian.

But the center of attention was Alcaraz, who started stealing the interest of spectators as soon as he arrived. Once on the pitch, the idyll between the people and the Spaniard began. It was a warning of the good chemistry that was being felt in the cathedral of Argentine tennis. As the game approached, he juggled the racket which drove the crowd crazy, then he won 6-2 in the first set. In the second set, the Serb gave him strength and finished 6-4.

Although in the third leg, Alcaraz once again shone with their game and beat their rival to win 6-2. As an anecdotal fact, the Spaniard showed his personality and on more than one occasion disagreed with the referee on where his rival’s ball had bounced, but the problem did not arise. is not aggravated in each case. After the end of the match, there is applause and the “Olé, olé, olé, Carlos, Carlos” descend from the stands. Charly put the Argentine public in his pocket.

“It’s been a long time for me and I’m not used to not playing that long,” Alcaraz said of his 100-day absence from the tour due to a semimembranosus muscle injury at the back. right leg before the Australian Open. “it was amazing. Winning the first game of the season here and the love I got it’s super special“said the Spaniard. “It’s my game and I try to give people a good time,” he added of his style. “The meat here is spectacular and the people get special treatment. They told me before they came to Argentina,” he pointed out of the local crowd.

The meeting had a luxury guest, Gabriela Sabatini, which was applauded. The best Argentine tennis player in history and former number 3 in the ATP ranking greeted the people and then did not want to miss the Alcaraz match and followed the alternatives very carefully from the stands.

After his victorious debut in Buenos Aires, Charly Alcaraz will play the quarter-finals against Dusan Lajovic (90°) which exceeded the porteño Camilo Ugo Carabelli (127th) in two consecutive sets, 6-3 and 6-1 after an hour and 40 minutes of play, in the penultimate match of the day.

Another Argentinian defeat was that of Buenos Aires Facundo Diaz Acosta (191°), that after surprising yesterday at Frederick Coria (49th), this Wednesday, he could not beat the Briton Cameron Norrie (12th), who overtook him 4-6, 7-5 and 7-6 (8-6). The Briton is the second seed.

Díaz Acosta, 22, put in a very fine performance, struggling for three hours before falling past Norrie (12) on center court at (BALTC), before some 3,000 people began to crush her. The youngster from Vicente López played at a high level in the first two sets and led 6-4 and 5-3 with the serve in a very favorable situation which he let go and cost him the match.

Although the only local joy in singles was in charge of La Plata Tomas Martin Etcheverry (82°) who beat the Spaniards Roberto Carballes Baena (76°) by 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2. Etcheverry, who had a good reaction and won after two and a half hours of the match which opened the day on center court. After losing 4-6 in the first set, he turned the tide and won the next two sets 6-1 and 6-2 to move into the top eight of the tournament.

Etcheverry had left a very good impression yesterday by beating the Bolivian in the first round Hugo Dellien (107th), who had just been a semi-finalist at the Cordoba Open. The 23-year-old will play his next game on Friday against Norrie.

“Without a doubt it was a super special match, in the second and third sets I had a very high level, I hadn’t played like that for a long time and to do it in front of my family has an extra seasoning,” , said the tennis player from La Plata, a gymnastics fan, in a press conference after his victory.

“This year, I proposed a change along these lines. When you play at the higher levels you have to be more aggressive, that’s the way to go and I know it will take time but I’m trying,” he revealed.

While this Thursday will see the debut of Diego Schwartzman (32nd), Argentina Open champion in 2021 and runner-up in 2019 and 2022, and will face the Spaniards Bernabé Zapata Miralles (74th) on his debut which will be in the round of 16 of the competition.

The tournament, which is played on the clay courts of the traditional Palermo complex, will award prizes totaling $711,600.

The other matches scheduled are: at 1:30 p.m., the Austrian Dominique Thiem (99th) and the Peruvian Jean Paul Varillas (101°). Not before 3:00 p.m. the best Argentine racket today, the porteño Francois Cerundolo (30°) with Spanish James Munar (67°). Not before 6:30 p.m., Cordovan Pedro Cachin (68th) against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (20) and at the end the aforementioned premiere of little schwartzman.

With information from Telam

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