Carlos Alcaraz's worst version of 2023 was able to beat Thompson in Cincinnati
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Carlos Alcaraz proved once again that he is a great champion in his first match at the Western & Southern Open, ATP Master 1000 in Cincinnati. In the worst version shown throughout 2023, the Spaniard was able to beat Jordan Thompson, who failed to take advantage of the Spaniard's moments of enormous difficulty throughout the challenge.
Between double faults, the rain break and a series of break points conceded by the two, the turn of the first set was to the advantage: at 5-5 the Australian lost the serve and the number one in the world finished 7-5 , despite finishing 0-30 and facing a break point.
In the second set it was Thompson who found some continuity in the rounds of service, while Alcaraz didn't raise the bar as everyone expected. Up 5-2, the 29-year-old from Sydney let his lead break recover but was able to take it back just when Alcaraz had the opportunity to restore the balance (6-4).
Carlos Alcaraz vs Jordan Thompson's highlights
In the third set, the break obtained in the opening allowed the Spaniard to control the match and play more calmly. Thompson didn't even have a chance to counter-break and had to give up 6-3 in three hours of play.
In the round of 16, Alcaraz will face Tommy Paul (up 2-1 in the head-to-head) or the Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Great performance instead for Gael Monfils, in Cincinnati. The Frenchman, despite the thought of retiring due to a left knee injury and the first set lost against a tough opponent like Cameron Norrie, was able to fight until the end and win in two hours of play.
3-6, 6-4, 6-3 the final score, which ensured the challenge with Alex De Minaur to earn the round of 16. In Ohio only one victory for Felix Auger-Aliassime, defeated in the second round by Adrien Mannarino with a double 6-4.
Today, is instead the great day of Novak Djokovic's come back in a US tournament, after the last year ban. Below the highlights of the match between Alcaraz and Thompson, shared by TennisTv on its YouTube page: