Google News Roland Garros: Carlos Alcaraz shocks Taro Daniel crazy with tweeners and dropshots!
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Carlos Alcaraz got the pass for the third round of the Roland Garros 2023 thanks to the victory against the Japanese Taro Daniel. A match well controlled by the world number one for long stretches; the only serious oversights occurred in the second set, which led to the loss of the set 6-3.
The Spanish tennis player made himself the protagonist of several spectacular points, which ignited the audience in the stands. One of these was simply incredible, with both starting a very long exchange full of short balls and tweeners (one each): in the end it was a dropshot from the Iberian that surprised the opponent and closed the point.
The adventure of the 20-year-old phenomenon in the Parisian Grand Slam competition has begun in the best possible way. Carlos has withstood the pressure of these early fights to be the top seed in the main draw, as well as one of the candidates for the final win.
An aspect that had cost him dearly in the past: this time the Spaniard overtook the Italian Flavio Cobolli on his debut and now the Japanese Taro Daniel, who proved to be a tough player anyway. The next match will be even more complicated and with a high difficulty coefficient.
In fact, the number one in the ATP ranking will challenge the Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who if during the day can be a very formidable and dangerous rival for the Iberian. The young man has recently imposed himself on the American Steve Johnson and on the Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
After gaining confidence in these matches, he is ready to try to worry Alcaraz, who will naturally start under the thumbs. Alcaraz will face Canadian talent Denis Shapovalov in the third round, an often tricky opponent: "I've never faced him even though we trained together in Barcelona.
Everyone knows his level, he's really a dangerous tennis player and has excellent strokes. It will be a difficult match but I'm ready to face it and give my best. As I've said several times, I don't have time to think about the opponent, I always try to think about myself and my game, I want to play the game. I want to enjoy the day off and then my team and I will think about the future."