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World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz survived a big scare in a tough test against the Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong at Roland Garros on Wednesday. However, he managed to win in four sets to go to the third round in the ongoing season of the French Open 2024. The Spaniard began well however got pushed back in the third set, followed by a break in the fourth. As the circumstance turned more critical, Alcaraz made a stunning comeback in the fourth set and won it 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Alcaraz after the match
"As I have said many times, any player can put you in trouble. You have to be very focused every match and every point and every round. It does not matter if I am at the top of the rankings and playing someone outside the Top 100. You have to think you have to play at your best if you want to get through. The ranking doesn’t matter, it matters the level to keep going and I am sure he will break the Top 100," Alcaraz said as quoted by ATP.
"The third set I needed to forget about putting on a show and put myself in the chance of putting in the rallies. It was difficult for me to do it. I was in trouble a little bit but I am very happy to do it at the end,” Alcaraz added.
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The World's No. 3 player is playing in the first event since Madrid. He missed Rome because of an arm injury. Alcaraz put on a dominant performance agaisnt J.J. Wolf in his firtst match in Paris, losing just four games. However, he showed signs of rust in the match against De Jong.
Alcaraz is eyeing to win his third major title. He has already won the US Open in 2022 and the Wimbledon in 2023. His best performance on the clay court came in the year 2023 when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Big fixtures from May 30
Reigning champ and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will take on Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round of the French Open 2024 at Roland Garros, Paris on Thursday. Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who stunned 14-time Rafael Nadal in the opening round, will go one-on-one against Belgium's David Goffin. Daniil Medvedev would also be seen in action today against Miomir Kecmanovic.
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