By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday February 15 2024
The Spaniard had his hands full with the 24-year-old qualifier but took care of business in straight sets to open his Argentina Open title defense.
Photo Source: TTV
Carlos Alcaraz made a successful return to Buenos Aires on Thursday, working his way past Argentinian qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-2, 7-5 to book a quarterfinal spot at the Argentina Open.
The defending champion had his share of struggles against the World No.134, but came away pleased to have the first match of his title defense under his belt in South America.
“It has been a really tough match,” Alcaraz said after his win. “Ugo is a really tough fighter, a really good player with good rhythm, and it was really tough to get into the match and play my game.”
Alcaraz struggled mightily behind his second-serve, winning just two of 17 points behind it, but he managed to scrape his way out of a tricky situation in the second set to notch the win.
After squandering a 5-2 lead, and missing out a match point in consecutive games at 5-3 and 5-4, Ugo Carabelli leveled at 5-all and had triple break point to go up 6-5. From there Alcaraz steadied and won nine of the final ten points to claim the victory in one hour and 45 minutes.
“I started very nervous, I’m not gonna lie,” Alcaraz said. “With the crowd behind him, supporting him, it’s normal, but I’m really happy with my first match on clay since Roland-Garros, hopefully I’ll keep going better and better.”
Elsewhere in Buenos Aires, No.2-seeded Cameron Norrie lost to Federico Coria 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. The Brit was a runner-up to Alcaraz last year in Buenos Aires.
Andrea Vavassori, who defeated Laslo Djere 6-4, 7-5, will be Alcaraz’s quarterfinal opponent on Friday.