Alcaraz survives ‘bombs’ to lead march of Australian Open favorites

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of big hitting from a familiar foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second round yesterday, with fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka also enduring some shaky moments before sealing progress.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz was given a workout by world number 102 Hanfmann at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena but rose to the challenge and prevailed 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2.

"I knew he was going to play great,” the Spaniard said. “I knew his level. We came through the Challengers together, I’ve played him. It was tougher than I thought at the beginning and I didn’t feel the ball that good.”

Alcaraz was in awe of the German’s power, saying:  “It was coming like a bomb. Forehand, backhand, serves. I had to be ready for those.”

Sabalenka’s issues came out of the blue, the Belarusian racing to a 5-0 lead against China’s Bai Zhuoxuan before suddenly losing three games in a row. However, the women’s number one refocused and proceeded to mow down Bai the rest of the way, running out a 6-3, 6-1 winner.

Third seed Coco Gauff, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko and veteran Elina Svitolina also advanced but British star Emma Raducanu lost to Austrian Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.

Gauff was at her ruthlessly efficient best, crushing Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 to progress, while Mboko downed American Caty McNally 6-4, 6-3.  Svitolina advanced with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Linda Klimovicova.

REUTERS