Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz plays countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Wednesday at Roland Garros for a spot in the third round. American Sebastian Korda will take the court against the French veteran Richard Gasquet.
(6) Carlos Alcaraz vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas
Carlos Alcaraz has positioned himself as the dominant clay-court player of the 2022 season thus far. The Spanish teenager captured titles in Barcelona and Madrid before taking a couple weeks’ rest in the lead-up to Roland Garros. He has notable wins over both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic this season and he was one of the pre-tournament favorites to win the title next Sunday.
Alcaraz will face countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas, a player he beat twice prior to his 2022 breakthrough. The veteran’s clay season has been a mixed bag. He had a good showing in Estoril, where he made the semis, but crashed out in the first round in his next three events.
With Alcaraz’s speed and confidence on the terre battue this spring, anything other than a straight-set victory on Wednesday would be a surprise.
Cheryl pick: Alcaraz in 3
Ricky pick: Alcaraz in 3
(27) Sebastian Korda vs. Richard Gasquet
American Sebastian Korda has managed to snag a seed at a slam for the first time in Paris. Due to a rain delay, he was forced to play his first-round match on Tuesday and now has to come back around for thre second round on Wednesday. The good news is that he defeated John Millman in straight sets; the bad news is that both the second and third sets were longer than they needed to be.
The No. 27 seed has been plagued with nerves while attempting to serve out matches. He was broken again on Tuesday serving for the match at 5-3 in the third. Korda managed to hold himself together to win the ensuing tiebreaker, but opponents are only going to get more difficult as the tournament progresses.
French veteran Richard Gasquet is ranked 70th in the world and will be the sentimental favorite for the Parisian crowd. He comes into Roland Garros off some success in Geneva, where he made the semifinals–defeating world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev along the way. He posted a tidy win over Lloyd Harris in the first round, but Korda is much more comfortable on the dirt than Harris.
Cheryl pick: Korda in 3
Ricky pick: Korda in 4
Sorry, me? I’ve stopped watching!! I just hate when someone serves for a match, particularly at a GS, and gets broken especially after playing so well and working particularly hard. Ramos really pissed me off!! Only ONE point he needed to go to the locker room and he makes an UFE!! Unforgivable!!! I’m so mad I can throw my laptop!! Now he has nothing left in the tank and is forced to play a fifth for pride!! Sigh!!
I can imagine how Roger fans feel about Wimby with that 40:15 tragedy!! Rafa almost did the same at AO but he was able to redeem himself!!
Haha Mona!!! But I agree- how frustrating! Not that I am watching.
Sanju will be cross! Talking of sanju, where is he????
Haha. I’m just generally asking the universe. 🙂 At this point, neither player deserves to win. LOL.
Really Cheryl? What is going on ?!😀😀
Mona has just jumped up and down on her own laptop.
I did watch earlier and Alcaraz really was there for the taking….
🤣😂😂🤣🤣 Amy, I’m just very crossed! And what that does now is just give Carlos even WAY more confidence going forward. This is exactly the type of matches that help players win GSs bcoz Carlos KNEW he was about to lose!! Ramos just gave him a huge pass!
But all in all, Ramos did play a great match, he took Carlos to the brink and exposed Carlos” game! I wish him a great season!
Now Vamos Rafa!!
I think Alcaraz has Korda next? Unless he has lost to Gasman?
I was thinking beforehand he might go out then…
But it does sound like stupid old ARV should have beaten him…😠
Gasquet can’t play bo5
Both Zverev and Alcaraz have faced MP but somehow survived to win their respective match.
They don’t look that unbeatable even when they’re top ten players. Alcaraz spent four over hours on court, don’t know how is he going to last for the rest of the tournament.
He is too inexperienced at a slam, making tons of errors. Ramos Vinolas should have won it in four sets had he served better at MP; it’s obvious Ramos Vinolas had run out of steam nearing the end of the match and Alcaraz managed to outlast him.
So Tsitsipas, Zverev and Alcaraz, all three of them, had to fight so hard to win their matches in five sets, and they’re three of the best performers on clay this season! Whilst the veteran Djoko has won his matches in straight sets, he is of a different league I would say.
Alcaraz probably has Korda next. If he plays like he did today he will lose…
Tell me now that Alcaraz is goimg to beat Novak! Please! Vinolas could not get it done. This happens to lower ranked players. They also can’t close out matches. He had it right there for the taking in the fourth set. Then he didn’t have enough in the tank in the fifth set.
This was a reality check. Yes it can guve you confidence to win a tough five setter if you were on the brink of losing, but we see that Alcaraz was exposed by Vinolas. He is not unbeatable.
Meanwhile Novak is in cruise control mode. Fresh as a daisy. Now we have to see if Rafa’s foot can hold up.
Amy pay no attention to the likes of Wilander et Al. They all r envious of Rafa bcoz he continues to debunk their theory of not achieving a long successful career blah blah blah!!!
For sure no one really looks unbeatable right now. Like u said Lucky had Ramos played an ace at match point that would have been the end of that!!!
Rafa and Novak on the other hand are very efficient players, guess they’ve learnt that over time. When u serve for a match, just serve for the damn match!! End of!!
Rafa himself better not piss me off today, I’m in no mood for it!! In 3 Rafa, in 3!!!!
Meanwhile, Gasquet is going home!
Korda too good
Wilandwr just said Alcaraz is the most exciting 19 year old tennis player ever!
Just absurd!
ARV should have beaten him in the fourth set
He really didn’t play well when I watched
So tired of this absurd hype
Eurosport commentary really is poor..
I repeat: where is Sanju?
Wilander is a piece of garbage. Such an embarrassment. If Vinolas can battle Alcaraz like that, then he’s not Superman. I think other players will see the weaknesses in his game. Vinolas should have won it in four sets. But there is a reason why he is ranked 46.
It’s very tedious listening to all this hype
Let’s see what happens against Korda..he can beat Alcaraz
Sanju is perhaps trying to wrap his head around Ramos” choke in the fourth!! This guy played Carlos so well, no fear, until the most important point, match point!! He still was fighting in the fifth, I didn’t give him enough credit bcoz I thought he was going to get a bagel!! And I’m sure he won more points than Carlos in that match, he was the better player!! But like u said Amy, no point in playing well and not being able to close!!!
Korda is playing well, but all I always remember is his 5:2 lead against Rafa a few months ago and not being able to close. At least his excuse was he was playing his idol, lol!! I have no doubt he can play a good game against Alcaraz, he has a better serve than Romas for a start, but will he be able to close if given the chance?