In a milestone match, Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his 100th Grand Slam appearance by dismantling Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the Australian Open fourth round. The top-ranked Spaniard showcased vintage form on Rod Laver Arena, blending power and finesse over two hours and five minutes.
Alcaraz controlled the opener effortlessly, but the second set tested his mettle. Leading 3-0, he dropped four straight games amid Moutet’s unorthodox tactics. Yet, the world No. 1 regrouped brilliantly, snatching a crucial break to go up two sets. The decider was all one-way traffic as Alcaraz’s superior athleticism overwhelmed the Frenchman.
‘I enjoyed every moment out there,’ Alcaraz reflected. ‘Corentin makes you unpredictable – that’s his strength. We exchanged some rally winners that had the crowd on their feet.’
Undefeated in sets so far, Alcaraz faces American Tommy Paul next. Victory here could propel him towards a career Grand Slam at just 22, the youngest ever. His 87-13 major ledger now matches Borg’s elite mark, outpacing Nadal, McEnroe, Djokovic, and Federer in early career stats. Sinner, his closest challenger, trails at 81-19 after his own 100th major last year.
Having tasted quarterfinal success in Melbourne previously, Alcaraz is primed for glory. This six-time Slam winner’s hunger for an Australian crown is palpable as the tournament heats up.