On the same court, with the same games lost and with the same forcefulness. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, two of the top candidates to stay with the title of Roland Garros in the absence of Rafael Nadal, achieved this Sunday a mirror classification towards the quarterfinals, instance prior to a hypothetical duel of semifinals that would face them, with the number 1 of the world ranking in the center of the Parisian brick dust, currently in the hands of Spanish.
Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP.
The beginning of the knockout stages of Roland Garros had them as main attractions in the men's singles to Djokovic and Alcaraz, who did not disappoint those who filled the main stadium Philippe Chatrier to overcome the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (94th) and the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (18th).
In the first round, Djokovic, 3 of the world and with 36 years of age, won with partial 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2 against the Peruvian Varillas, one of the surprises of the contest that last Monday had won his first match in a Grand Slam.
With his triumph, settled in 1 hour and 57 minutes, Djokovic will play in the quarters of Paris for the 14th consecutive time, for a total of 17 – a new record, surpassing Rafa Nadal, who has 16 – with two titles in the showcase (2016 and 2021).
Photo: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP.
"I'm proud, it means I'm not young," he replied when Marion Bartoli asked him at the foot of the track about his record. The Serb also beats to eclipse Nadal in a more prestigious category, that of Grand Slam titles. At the moment, the two lead with 22.
Varillas at least earned praise from Djokovic: "It's the first time we've played, I know he's a specialist on this surface, he has a very consistent game. I'm happy because I've probably shown the highest level this week."
Photo: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
After that match, on the center court of the Parisian complex, it was the moment of the 1 of the ATP ranking, Carlos Alcaraz, who got rid of a danger rival like Musetti with partial 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2, in two hours and eight minutes of play.
There was expectation to see the number 1, untouchable in the first three wheels, against an opponent who had won the only meeting between the two, the Hamburg final last year.
But the great duel on Sunday, between two 20-year-old boys who have known each other since childhood, did not have great intrigue, with an Alcaraz capable of combining consistency and art before a Musetti who left some brushstrokes but unable to sustain the level.
The Spaniard now awaits the winner of the duel between Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th) and Austrian Sebastian Ofner (118th).
Photo: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The novelty of this Sunday will be that for the first time in the tournament there will be a women's night session with the duel between Aryna Sabalenka and the American Sloane Stephens (30 in the world).
Sunday's main matches
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) - Elise Mertens (BEL/N.28)
Novak Djokovic (SRB/N.3) - Juan Pablo Varillas (PER)
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.1) - Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/N.17)
Sloane Stephens (USA) - Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/N.2)
Karen Khachanov (RUS/N.11) - Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
Karolina Muchova (CZE) - Elina Avanesyan (RUS)
Elina Svitolina (UKR) - Daria Kasatkina (RUS/N.9)
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) - Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/N.5)
See also