This Thursday, Carlos Alcaraz won the First Cup that bears his name by winning by 7-6 (1), 1-6 y 10-7 in 1 hour and 53 minutes to Roberto Bautista in a Murcia Sports Palace packed to bursting on the occasion of this exhibition match organized by the Autonomous Community and the Tennis Federation of the Region of Murcia on Christmas dates.
The current number 2 in the world and winner of 12 ATP titles, six of them this year, and the United States Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023 as the most notable, was playing a day after having faced and defeated the Serbian Novak Djokovic, the leader of the ATP, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4 in the exhibition held in Riyadh.
Having just landed from Saudi Arabia, he faced a combative opponent and did what he does best. 1,726 days had passed since Bautista played his last match in Murcia, at the 2019 ATP Challenger Costa Clida, and The presence of the newly elected Best Spanish Athlete of 2023 aroused unusual expectation. So much so that the 7,500 locations put on sale for this event at the Palacio de los Deportes They sold out in less than an hour and a half..
Was a solidarity meeting -the money raised went to charity- and a great opportunity to see Carlitosat 20 years old, hitting the ball at home against a veteran rival, 35 years old and ranked 57th in the ATP ranking -third Spaniard after Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Malaga.
A very even first set
Alcaraz, raising 15-40, scored the first game of the match but soonIt was clear that Bautista was not willing to be a guest at the party without further ado. and leveled the score by winning his blank serve and then, for the rest, he had a 30-40 that did not materialize.
The Sports Palace of Murcia during the exhibition of Carlos Alcaraz and Roberto Bautista
The one from La Plana, who became number 9 on the list in November 2019 and has accumulated 11 individual titles as a professional, would not make it easy for his partner on the Spanish Davis Cup team. In fact, equal to 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the fast track installed in the Palace.
The fronton that is Bautista resisted the cyclone Alcaraz, less fine than usualalthough leaving points typical of a player of his class.
In a festive atmosphere – “come on, posh! and “marry me!”, they said to Carlos, to which he responded laughing – the meeting continued to take place with great equality and Bautista had his fourth and fifth breaking balls to go up 5-6. I didn’t take advantage of them either because three good serves from the palming got him out of trouble. He is ready to stay to be able to win the set but Castelln is firm throwing the ball in the air and forces the tie break with 6-6. In the sudden death, Alcaraz’s superiority was clear and the best was left for that outcome that decided with a clear 7-1 in their favor and several points in 1 hour and 2 minutes of battle.
The man from Castellón does not slow down
The second round began with Bautista again plugged in and, as he was the first to serve, he took the initiative. Immediately afterwards the rest were placed 0-40 and, with 30-40, finally broke Alcaraz’s serve on his eighth break point in the match. The problem of 0-2 in the set The player from El Palmar quickly solved it by taking advantage of the first break option he had with a great right hand.. However, he lied and He gave up serve again against an opponent who did not lose his strength and went 1-4 raising two break points against him.
The Sports Palace of Murcia during the exhibition of Alcaraz and Bautista
A new break and a service won with authority by Bautista They tied the Castellón player in sets after another 37 minutes of play.
That gave rise to I hope you break, which is the way in which this I Carlos Alcaraz Cup will be resolved. That final fight Bautista began with his positive inertia (0-1 and 1-2 and 2-3) and the match rose in temperature and also tennis Alcarazwho roommate 9-3 with seven points in a row. The Castellón player made four in a row when he seemed defeated to give excitement at the end (9-7) but The Murcian closed it with a winning backhand after another 14 minutes.
With two victories in these two exhibitions and without time for much rest He is already thinking about the Australian Open, first Grand Slam of the season. In that major, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil will have the start of a new course, although without him by his side since the Onteniente player is recovering from an operation on his left knee.
At that appointment, already in 2024, Carlos will arrive with the aim of continuing to grow in his tennis to fight for number 1 with Djokovic and knowing that Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune appear behind him…
