Seventeen-year-old Spanish rising star Carlos Alcaraz has claimed his spot in the main draw of the Australian Open with a 6-2 6-3 win over Bolivia’s Hugo Delien in the third qualifying round in Doha after winning 73 % of his first serve points. The qualifying tournament was held in Doha due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alcaraz got the first break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Delien broke straight back in the third game. Alcaraz won three consecutive games with a break to build up a 5-1 lead. Delien broke back in the seventh game for 2-5 but Alcaraz earned his third game in the eighth game to close out the first set 6-2. Delien won just four points on his serve in the first set.
Alcaraz claimed the second set 6-3 with his only break in the second game. Alcaraz saved two break points in the fifth game of the second set and never looked back to seal the win after 1 hour and 23 minutes.
The Spanish Next Gen player claimed three ATP Challenger Finals titles from four finals winning in Trieste, Barcelona and Alicante.
Thirty-five year-old Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovskiy, who came back from one set down to Dane Sweeny 2-6 6-3 6-1 securing his place in the main draw for the first time since 2016. Stakhovskiy converted 4 of his 13 break points.
Bernard Tomic battled past world number 315 John Patrick Smith 6-4 5-7 7-6 (9-7) to become the only Australian man to qualify for the main draw. Tomic had to come back from one break down in the first and second sets before sealing the win in the super tie-break.
Viktor Troicki edged Cedrik-Male Stebe 6-4 6-2. Maxime Cressy qualified for the Australian Open main draw with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Dustin Brown. Sweden’s Elias Ymer cruised past Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1 6-2 to reach the Australian Open main draw for the first time since 2018 after saving all six break points he faced.
Former US Open Junior doubles champion Federico Ferreira from Portugal upset Grogore Barrere 6-3 6-4. Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans eased past Damir Dzumhur 6-0 6-2. Michael Mmoh edged past Arthur Rinderknecht 6-3 7-6 (7-3). France’s Quenyn Halys saw off Robin Haase 6-3 6-4.
