Alcaraz Eases Into Cincinnati Open Fourth Round With Victory Against Medjedovic

The men’s 2nd seed Carlos Alcaraz continued to rebuild his on-court momentum and hit aft a little summertime break by defeating nan talented young Serbian Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 to scope nan 4th information of nan Cincinnati Open.

The triumph was a affirmative measurement for Alcaraz aft a rusty capacity successful his opener against Damir Dzumhur connected Sunday, wherever he won a turbulent three-set title successful his first lucifer since losing nan Wimbledon last against Jannik Sinner.

Instead of instantly focusing connected nan North American difficult tribunal swing, pinch nan Canadian Open successful Toronto starting 2 weeks aft Wimbledon, Alcaraz took immoderate clip off. He took a week disconnected from believe and holidayed successful El Puerto de Santa Maria, successful confederate Spain, earlier 2 weeks training astatine location successful El Palmar, Murcia.

“When I’m off, I’m off,” he said. “I don’t measurement successful nan gym astatine all. A batch of times if we spell for a trip, sometimes my friends spell to nan gym. The first week that I had disconnected I conscionable told them: ‘I’m gonna subordinate you for a small run.’ But past I woke up and I said: ‘Go, and I’m going to support sleeping.’”

Medjedovic presented a genuine situation for Alcaraz. A victor astatine nan Next Gen ATP Finals successful 2023, 2 years aft Alcaraz’s triumph there, nan 22-year-old is equipped pinch a large service and an tremendous forehand. However, his footwork, conditioning and strength are each lacking astatine nan highest level. With nan objection of a little blip successful nan 2nd set, wherever he momentarily mislaid his serve, Alcaraz played a coagulated lucifer and he continually exposed Medjedovic’s activity arsenic he marched into nan 4th round.

Alcaraz will adjacent look Luca Nardi, a fortunate loser, aft nan 16th seed Jakub Mensik became nan latest subordinate to suffer successful nan heat, retiring from his third-round lucifer against Nardi erstwhile trailing 6-2, 2-1. In nan women’s tie Coco Gauff precocious to nan 4th information aft a walkover against Dayana Yastremska, nan 32nd seed, who withdrew connected Tuesday owed to illness.