Carlos Alcaraz continued his steady return to top form with a commanding performance at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, defeating Laslo Djere 7-6(2), 6-2 on Sunday night in Rome. The third seed battled through a tense opening set before finding his rhythm and cruising into the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career.
Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, had to weather some early challenges under the lights of Campo Centrale. Facing Djere for the second time in less than a month, the Spaniard appeared somewhat sluggish in the opening stages, struggling to find his usual rhythm. Djere, to his credit, came out sharp, serving well and displaying consistent baseline play despite dealing with a noticeable right arm injury that would ultimately affect his performance.
The match began with both players holding serve confidently, but it was Djere who first made a move, breaking Alcaraz and earning a chance to serve for the first set. However, Alcaraz, known for his mental resilience, dug deep in the crucial moments. He broke back and forced a tiebreak, where his aggressive play and quick court coverage overwhelmed the Serbian. The tiebreak swung decisively in the Spaniard’s favor, 7-2, giving him the edge and momentum heading into the second set.
Reflecting on the challenging start, Alcaraz admitted, “It was a really tough beginning, honestly, to find a good rhythm, to find the good path in the match. He played really solid in the first set. I didn’t find the way to [stop him], that’s how tough it was at the beginning. He was serving for the first set and I just thought that I had to stay there, mentally strong, and wait for my chances. I was just happy to get the first set.”
That first set win seemed to unlock Alcaraz’s full potential. With more confidence in his strokes and better timing on his returns, he dominated the second set. Djere, hampered increasingly by his arm injury, was unable to maintain the level he showed early on. Alcaraz capitalized on the situation with clinical precision, breaking serve multiple times and dictating the pace with his trademark explosive forehands and net rushes.
“In the second set I think I was playing better,” Alcaraz noted. “He made a few mistakes that I tried to make the most of, and I am really happy.”
This victory marks an important milestone for Alcaraz, who has been carefully managing his schedule and form after missing parts of the clay season due to injury. His performance in Rome signals he is once again a serious contender as the French Open approaches.
With this win, Alcaraz sets up a high-stakes fourth-round clash with the 23rd seed Karen Khachanov. The two have met before in some tightly contested matches, and their upcoming encounter promises to be another thrilling battle as they vie for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Fans can catch all the action live and on-demand at tennistv.com, as the young Spaniard continues his pursuit of his first title in Rome.