Carlos Alcaraz overcame a tough test to defeat Dan Evans 7-6(1) 6-4 at the Shanghai Masters. The top seed came back from a break down in both sets to advance to the round of 16 in what is his debut at the tournament. It was a monumental match, with one game lasting 19 minutes and the first set taking an hour and 28 minutes.
Alcaraz and Evans were facing off for the fourth time, just weeks after the Brit pushed the world No 2 to four sets at the US Open. After saving two break points in the opening game it was the 33-year-old who drew first blood, breaking to love and taking a 3-1 lead.
The pair then found themselves caught up in a 19-minute game as the top seed looked to get the break back. Evans had a game point to consolidate his lead as he chased down a drop shot from Alcaraz, responding with one of his own.
But the point went to the 20-year-old as Evans fell into the net, with the rules of tennis stating that touching the net while a ball is in play means the point is awarded to the opponent. The world No 33 was still able to hold on for 4-1 but Alcaraz kicked into life, breaking back for 4-4.
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The Spaniard had a chance to break again and win his fourth game in a row but Evans held his nerve once again and the opener eventually went to a tiebreak. Alcaraz ran away with it, dropping just one game to take an 88-minute first set 7-6(1).
Once again it was Evans who got an early break in the second set to lead 2-1 but Alcaraz wasted no time in breaking straight back. After the Spaniard squandered multiple break points in set number one, it was the 33-year-old who did the same in the second set. He failed to take four on the Alcaraz serve as the top seed held for 3-2.
The top seed refused to give Evans another look at his serve for the rest of the set, holding with ease. And Alcaraz could sense opportunity with his opponent serving at 4-5 down. The Brit won three points in a row after going 0-30 down but the 20-year-old refused to go away and set up a match point. He only needed the one, taking the match in style on a return winner.
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“It was one of the toughest matches I’ve played so far outside the Grand Slams,” the world No 2 said afterwards. “Every time I face Daniel it’s a tricky match. I have to give my best if I want to beat him so it’s been a really tough match. I think both of us played a high quality of tennis. I’m really happy to get through and of course really, really happy with the level that I played today.”
Alcaraz is now through to the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters in what is his debut at the tournament. The event is being played for the first time since 2019 when the Spaniard was aged just 16 and playing a handful of matches on the Challengers and Futures circuits.
He now faces 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov for a spot in the quarter-final. With his own run to the round of 16, the Bulgarian has won back-to-back matches at a Masters tournament for the first time this season. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head by three wins to zero losses.
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