Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hits a return against Italy's Luca Nardi.
Doha, Qatar: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was made to work hard at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open yesterday, but the 21-year-old held his nerve to fend off a spirited challenge from Italian qualifier Luca Nardi, sealing a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory to book his place in the quarter-finals at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The victory at the ATP 500 event, which came in one hour and 53 minutes, was Spaniard’s 12th win in a row this season.
After a dominant opening set, Alcaraz had taken a 4-1 lead in the second, before Nardi staged a brilliant fightback to win six consecutive games to level the proceedings. The four-time major champion, making his debut appearance in the prestigious event, overcame the 19-year-old qualifier in the decider to wrap up the win in front of a full house.
Alcaraz credited his opponent for the unexpected comeback in the second set.
“The match started really well, playing really good tennis. I was kind of controlling the match pretty well until 4-1. I had chances at 40-All. I think he played a few good points at that time. He started playing really well, so I had to give credit to him as well,” Alcaraz said.
“Probably I feel like my energy level got down a little bit, but his level was really impressive. From 4-1 to the end of the second set I feel like he was playing a top-10 level, so it was really impressive,” he said.
Alcaraz expressed his delight in reaching the Doha quarters.
“I’m just really happy to stay strong mentally and forget everything and start again in the third set. I tried to get back my good energy level, and started to play good tennis, just really happy to get through again,” Alcaraz said.
The World No. 3 Alcaraz will next face Jiri Lehecka for a place in the semi-finals.
“Well, Jiri is a really difficult, difficult player. I mean, he’s very dangerous. I was warming up with him a few days ago, and I practised with him in Rotterdam as well. His shots are really dangerous. He hits bombs in every serve, forehand, backhand. So I have to be really focused, I have to be in a good state physically, mentally, just to stay there all the time,” Alcaraz, who had beaten the Czech in their only previous outing.
“I will try to take the opportunities that he’s going to give me in the match, if he give me, and that’s it. So let’s see tomorrow, but it’s going to be a really difficult match,” Alcaraz said.
Lehecka, meanwhile, secured a relatively easy win to reach the last eight. The World No.23 dispatched Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-2 in just 63 minutes to book the high-profile quarter-final showdown.
Second seed Alex de Minaur also made it to the quarters when he breezed past Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 in two hours. The Australian, who racked up his 200th tour-level hard-court win during his opening-round victory against Roman Safiullin, is seeking his first title of the season.
The World No.8 De Minaur, who is now on his third consecutive quarter-final appearance in Doha, next faces former champion Andrey Rublev.
Rublev, the title winner five years ago, defeated Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4 in another second-round clash.
Meanwhile, after being eliminated in the opening round in the singles, Novak Djokovic suffered a loss in his doubles quarter-final yesterday. Djokovic and Fernando Verdasco were beaten by Harri Helioevaara and Henry Patten with a 7–5, 6–4 scoreline.
Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski also advanced to the doubles semis by defeating Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus 4–6, 6–3, 10–5.
ATP Qatar Open
Men’s Singles – Round of 16
Alex de Minaur (AUS) bt Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 6–4, 6–4
Daniil Medvedev (RUS) bt Zizou Bergs (BEL) 6–2, 6–1
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) bt Luca Nardi (ITA) 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt Nuno Borges (POR) 6–3, 6–4
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) bt Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) Walkover
Jack Draper (GBR) bt Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6–2, 6–1
Jiri Lehecka (CZE) bt Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 6–4, 6–2
Men’s Doubles – Quarter-final
Joe Salisbury (GBR) / Neal Skupski (GBR) bt Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Michael Venus (NZL) 4–6, 6–3, 10–5
Harri Helioevaara (FIN) / Henry Patten (GBR) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7–5, 6–4
