Carlos Alcaraz Wins Through But Emma Raducanu Edged Out
Australian Open
January 18, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz is still in the hunt for Grand Slam glory after another thrilling win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
Meanwhile Emma Raducanu’s comeback was derailed by third-set illness – and her Australian adventure comes to an end.
Alcaraz required flashes of sheer brilliance to defeat Sonego 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
Afterwards he said: ‘I’m very happy with my performance and we played some great tennis despite problems with the wind and the sun at times.’
Now Carlitos plays the up-and-coming Shang Juncheng in what promises to be another cracker.
Raducanu will be disappointed she couldn’t build on a storming second set in her own contest. But she is still building her fitness and taking great strides forward.
A determined Wang Yafan eventually beat her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a superb match lasting nearly three hours.
The signs were still extremely good for the rest of Emma’s 2024, though. She can take a lot of positives from the quality of her stroke-play and the high level of aggression she rediscovered.
Carolos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu look ready to light up Wimbledon 2024 later in the year!
Emma should be fully fit by then and ready to come out with all guns blazing. Alcaraz is Wimbledon champion and will be desperate to defend his title in style.
But there could be another delicious twist to their story. Carlitos has made Emma a tempting offer going forward. We suspect most Wimbledon fans would love to see it become a reality.
Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu might play mixed doubles at Wimbledon 2024.
They are both superstars – and they both have youth and a sense of fun on their side.
Alcaraz said of Raducanu: ‘It’s so great to see her back on court after all her surgeries. Tennis needs her, she’s a pleasure to watch.
‘I still want to play mixed doubles with her. She’s told me she’s thinking about it.’
With Raducanu still needing to build her stamina after nearly a year out of meaningful action, she may delay her decision for now.
But by the time Wimbledon 2024 comes around, things could be very different.
And Raducanu may sense that her best short-term hope of another Grand Slam title might lie in the mixed doubles – if she teams up with a man as talented as Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu won’t be the only superstars strutting their stuff at Wimbledon 2024. Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie will be there too.
Djokovic will want one last Grand Slam title at the All England Club. And Norrie will also be hoping for a deep run on grass.
He just won a marathon five-setter against Giulio Zeppieri in Melbourne – when he looked down and out. The stubborn Brit eventually triumphed 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Now Norrie faces an even tougher test in a third-round match-up with Casper Ruud.
It’s all happening at the Australian Open. Just imagine how great Wimbledon 2024 will be!
Give us a call and you can be there – at the most historic and glamorous Grand Slam of them all – Wimbledon 2024.