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The top seed Carlos Alcaraz is through into the third round at Roland Garros following a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Taro Daniel in two hours and 25 minutes. Carlos played well in sets he won, losing ground a bit in the second set before taking charge in the third and fourth to sail over the top.
The Spaniard lost serve two times from three chances offered to his rival and produced dominant numbers on the return. World no. 1 took half of the return points and claimed seven breaks from 11 opportunities to celebrate his 26th Major victory.
Carlos fired 47 winners and 36 unforced errors and destroyed the opponent in the shortest range up to four strokes. Alcaraz held at love in the encounter's first game with a service winner and broke Daniel with a sharp volley at the net in game two for an early advantage.
Taro missed a break chance in the third game with a wayward forehand, and Carlos gained a 4-1 advantage with a mighty forehand two games later.
Carlos Alcaraz ousted Taro Daniel in four sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The Japanese spayed a forehand mistake in the sixth game to drop serve for the second time and push the Spaniard 5-1 up.
Carlos landed a serve & volley combo in the seventh game for a fine hold and the opening set in his bag after 31 minutes. Daniel raised his game in the second set, attacking more and gaining an early break. Alcaraz netted an easy forehand in the second game to fall 2-0 behind.
Taro denied a break chance in game five with an efficient attack and held for 4-1. The Japanese served well in games seven and nine and grabbed the set after the Spaniard's loose forehand at 5-3. Carlos shifted into a higher gear in the third set and forced the rival's mistake in the second game for an early break.
World no. 1 held at 15 in game three with a service winner to confirm it and painted a forehand down the line winner in the next one for a break at love and 4-0. The Spaniard landed another backhand down the line winner in game five and missed a bagel in the next one, as the Japanese saved a set point and held for 1-5.
Alcaraz wrapped up the set with a hold at 30 in game seven, moving two sets to one in front after an hour and 49 minutes and hoping to seal the deal in the fourth. They traded breaks in the opening games, and Daniel moved 2-1 up with a hold at love.
Carlos took charge and grabbed the remaining five games to sail over the top. World no. 1 held at love with a service winner for 2-2 and clinched a break in the next one after the rival's double fault. The Spaniard secured another return game at 4-2 with a deep return and cracked a forehand down the line winner in game eight to emerge at the top in style.