Wimbledon 2023: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz passes tricky Alexandre Muller test to reach third round
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Updated 07/07/2023 at 16:22 GMT+1
World No. 1 and Wimbledon top seed Carlos Alcaraz is into the third round after navigating an awkward match against Alexandre Muller. The Spaniard made a slow start and produced a large number of unforced errors, but battled his way to a straight-sets win to earn a tie against Nicolas Jarry or Jason Kubler next. Alcaraz is one win away from replicating his best run, to the fourth round last year.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates against Alexandre Muller of France in the Men's Singles second round match during day five of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 07, 2023 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz continued his quest for a maiden Wimbledon title by overcoming a tricky test against Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the second round.
The world No. 1 was uncharacteristically sloppy at times, making 41 unforced errors, but did enough to battle his way to a 6-4 7-6(2) 6-3 win in two hours and 34 minutes.
“I’m really happy. It’s my second match on Centre Court and I lost the first one last year," Alcaraz said.
“I’m happy to play here again, this time with a win on this beautiful court. I wanted to enjoy every single second and I think I did.”
Alcaraz will face Jason Kubler or 25th seed Nicolas Jarry next as he looks to book a place in the second week of Wimbledon for a second consecutive year.
“It’s really important to start tournaments well, to have great feelings," Alcaraz added.
"I think I’m playing really well on grass, I’m not as experienced maybe as other players, but I’m enjoying it.
“I’m at a good level, getting more experience and getting better with every match I play. Of course playing here at Wimbledon is something special, you feel different compared to other tournaments.”
Both players put on the squeeze early in the first set but neither managed to seize their break point chances as it quickly became clear a finely-balanced contest was breaking out.
There was nothing to separate the players in the first six games, but Alcaraz then made the decisive breakthrough, coming back from 30-15 down to win three straight points and break Muller’s serve.
That proved enough to seal the opener, with Muller admirably saving two set points on serve to hold but proving unable to pressurise the Spaniard for a break-back.
Alcaraz was uncharacteristically uneven, producing 15 unforced errors in the opening set to Muller’s nine and continuing that trend in the second when he added another 17.
It proved to be another hard-fought set of tennis, with Muller saving four break points for a superb hold at 2-2 before Alcaraz had to fend one off while 3-4 down.
Ultimately neither player was able to make ground on the other’s serve and a tie-break beckoned.
Alcaraz came to the net for a smash to take an instant mini-break before serving well to race into a 3-0 lead.
The Spaniard seized both points on Muller’s serves to take firm control, and a double-fault was the only blemish on an otherwise masterful tie-break performance as he won 7-2.
The world No. 84’s resistance didn’t end there, though, as he proved just as unshakeable early in the third set as he had in the first two.
Set three stayed on serve until Alcaraz pounced at the optimal moment, breaking Muller with a scintillating forehand winner to take a 5-3 lead.
There was a nervy moment when the 20-year-old Spaniard found himself facing two break points while serving for the match, but he saved both before clinching his third match point.
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