Carlos Alcaraz, World No.2, stormed into the fourth round of the Australian Open after Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng retired early in the third set of their third-round contest at Rod Laver Arena here on Saturday.Alcaraz did not face a break point in the entire match and wrapped it up with 18 out of 21 of his first-serve points.
Shang was looking to become the first Chinese player to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam since 1938, but he walked into the Rod Laver Arena with his upper right thigh strapped after playing nine sets across his first two matches.He also received treatment for the injury during the second set. This impeded Shang's movement at times, and Alcaraz capitalized on it by forcing him from one corner to another.
The 18-year-old Shang was unable to generate enough firepower on his serve to be confident of holding, however, and did not have enough game on returns to get a look at Alcaraz.The Spaniard was leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 when Shang retired after 66 minutes into the match. He will next lock horns with Miomir Kecmanovic, who trounced last year's semifinalist Tommy Paul 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-0.
American Paul led by two sets to one on Margaret Court Arena and had a match point in the fourth-set tiebreak, but Kecmanovic leveled and then ripped through the deciding set for victory.Alcaraz will also like to reclaim the No.1 ranking from Novak Djokovic this fortnight should they face off in the Australian Open final.(UNI)
