By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 9, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz rallied from a break down in both sets scoring a 7-6(1), 6-4 win over Dan Evans in a wildly entertaining Shanghai showdown.
Photo credit: Hugu Hu/Getty
Bending the ball into obscure areas, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniel Evans engaged in Shanghai shotmakers duel that spread all over the court today.
Channeling tenacity and audacity, Alcaraz advanced in an electric encounter.
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Alcaraz rallied from a break down in both sets scoring a 7-6(1), 6-4 win over Evans to reach the Rolex Shanghai Masters round of 16 with a wildly entertaining win.
The top-seeded Spaniard raised his 2023 record to 63-8, including a 41-1 mark against opponents ranked outside of the Top 20.
Afterward, Alcaraz called it one of the most demanding non-Grand Slam duels he's ever played.
"It was a really tough match," Alcaraz said. "As I said, it was one of the toughest matches I've played so far outside of the Grand Slams. So every time that 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."
It wasn’t easy, but it sure was a blast to watch.
The victory vaults Alcaraz into a round-of-16 meeting vs. Grigor Dimitrov.
Earlier, former world No. 3 Dimitrov defeated Karen Khachanov 7-6(6), 6-4.
The 18th-seeded Bulgarian banged 10 aces against one double fault and did not drop serve in a one hour, 58-minute win. Dimitrov conquered Khachanov for the third time in as many meetings.
It is Dimitrov’s first Masters 1000 round-of-16 appearance since he lost to Alcaraz at the Rolex Paris Masters last November.
"We have played great matches," Alcaraz said of Dimitrov. "For me, I don't think about if I lose a set or not against him. I think he has a great game, you know, he's a really talented player. He kind of gives you a lot of shots on the court, so it's going to be a little bit tricky for me."
The lightning-quick Alcaraz extended points with some astounding defensive digs and drilled some superb running strikes to turn both sets around against Evans. Alcaraz smacked 34 winners—14 more than the Briton—and unleashed his ferocious forehand at crunch time.
One of the few players whose transition and net skills are on par with the Spanish superstar, Evans denied break points in the opening game then showed his shot-making skills in the fourth game.
Reading an Alcaraz approach, Evans zipped a forehand down the line for triple break point. When Alcaraz dragged a forehand down the line wide, Evans earned the love break for 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Alcaraz was applying severe pressure in the fifth game. Evans dug in and denied two break points in a physical 19-minute game that popped with several dynamic running rallies as he held for 4-1.
Slashing a pair of jolting winners brought Alcaraz two more break points in the seventh game. Evans saved the first, but Alcaraz coaxed an error on the second, breaking back at 3-4.
Alcaraz backed up the break holding with an ace—his second straight game-ending ace—to even after eight games.
Evans spit up successive double faults in the ninth game. Alcaraz tossed up a challenging lob to earn another break point. Evans staved it off and survived a draining game to hold for 5-4 when Alcaraz netted a drop shot.
In an outrageous point in the 11th game, Alcaraz made some eye-popping gets only to see Evans answer with a series of volleys eventually knocking off a backhand volley winner. Evans again navigated a tough hold for 6-5.
An exquisite Alcaraz dipping drop volley sealed the 12th game to force a tiebreaker.
The breaker opened with a bang as Alcaraz read an Evans volley down the line and flicked a forehand pass crosscourt for the mini break. Alcaraz handcuffed the Briton with the body serve stretching to 3-0. Dynamic defensive digs from a streaking Alcaraz blew both fans’ and Evans’ collective minds as the back-pedaling Briton strayed a smash.
Alcaraz slid an ace down the T for 5-1. A free-flowing Alcaraz clubbed a fierce forehand winner for 6-1 for five set points.
The top seed torched a two-handed return winner down the line to seal a wildly entertaining one hour, 27-minute set.
The Spaniard’s speed around the the court helped him take a one-set lead. Evans showed superb creativity on the move rapping a running forehand pass to break for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Shrugging it off, Alcaraz whipped a backhand pass and fired a diagonal forehand winner breaking back immediately in the fourth game.
Amazing defensive digs from Alcaraz helped him climb out of a triple break point hole. Alcaraz erased four break points in all working through an eight-minute hold for 3-2.
Serving at 4-5, Evans had a game point, but could not handle a dipping pass at net. Alcaraz attacked and Evans missed a lob long to face match point.
Reading the wide serve, Alcaraz blitzed a backhand return down the line bellowing a victory scream when the match-ending strike landed.
“Lets Go Shanghai!” Alcaraz signed the court-side camera lens after a pulsating two hour, 23-minute win.