Carlos Alcaraz, like fellow skilled gamers, did not go all the way in which on the 1 Level Slam in Melbourne.
On an evening that completely captured the spirit of the exhibition occasion, world no. 1 misplaced to Maria Sakkari within the third spherical.
“i imply the dropshot’s my shot, i don’t know what occurred to be sincere , by no means disillusioned me, not even in hardest moments” carlos is so 😭 pic.twitter.com/Q4FNhfVNBt
— ola ! #A1CARAZ (@bIuezoya) January 14, 2026
The six-time Main winner served in opposition to the Greek however did not used that benefit. Maria returned the rival's serve and endured a rally earlier than Carlos went for his trademark drop shot.
It's one in every of his most trusted weapons that has rescued him numerous instances on the game's largest levels. Nonetheless, it let him down this time, with the ball refusing to go the online.
The change showcased the brilliance and unpredictability of tennis, even in a relaxed setting. The miss sealed the deal for Sakkari and despatched world no. 1 packing.
Whereas lacking an opportunity to chase $1 million, Carlos loved each second of the exhibition, smiling and joking with fellow gamers. The Spaniard instantly embraced the irony of the scenario.
He shared the joke together with his rival and the spectators. The 1 Level Slam was about enjoyment as a lot as competitors, mixing elite professionals with amateurs in a celebratory environment on the eve of the Australian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot
Carlos leaves the exhibition with no scars. World no. 1 will face Alex de Minaur in an exhibition match on Thursday, making the ultimate fine-tuning forward of the primary Main of the season.
The 22-year-old will chase his first trophy in Melbourne. If he achieves that, he’ll turn out to be the youngest proprietor of a Profession Grand Slam, the last word honor in our sport.
His miss in opposition to Sakkari proves that even probably the most dependable pictures can misfire, particularly on nights designed for enjoyable moderately than stress. There's little doubt that Alcaraz's drop shot will serve him extra then high-quality when the official motion begins on Sunday.
"The drop shot is my shot; I have no idea what occurred, to be sincere. It by no means disillusioned me, not even within the hardest moments, however as we speak it didn’t work," Carlos Alcaraz stated.
