Alcaraz advances steadily against Walton and reaches the second round of the Australian Open

MELBOURNE (EFE).– Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, world number one, debuted with authority at the Australian Open by defeating Australian Adam Walton in three sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2) and 6-2, a result that allowed him to advance to the second round of the first Grand Slam of the season, the only one that is not yet in his record.

You may be interested in:Carlos Alcaraz announces split with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

The Murcian needed two hours and eight minutes to resolve his debut in Melbourne, which also represented his first official match of the year and the first without Juan Carlos Ferrero as head coach. In the Rod Laver Arena box was Samu López, who assumes the role of coach in this new stage. Alcaraz, who has never reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, showed strength and composure to overcome an opponent backed by the home crowd, especially in the second set, which was decided in the ‘tie break’. In the second round, the Spaniard will face the German Yannick Hanfmann, winner of the American Zachary Svajda by 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 and 7-6(3).

Ferrero is pronounced

Coinciding with Alcaraz’s debut, Juan Carlos Ferrero reappeared publicly through social media, where he thanked the multiple expressions of support received since he announced his departure from the Spanish tennis player’s technical team. “I am very grateful for all the messages of affection. Now I enjoy more time at home, with my family and at the academy, after so many years of traveling,” expressed the former world number one and Roland Garros champion. Ferrero did not rule out a possible return to the circuit. “After a while I’m sure I’ll want to come back,” he commented, leaving the door open to future projects related to professional tennis.