Miami Open 2023: Alcaraz vs Lajovic Highlights: World no.1 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz brushed past Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0 7-6(5) in the 3rd round to keep his title defense on track at the Miami Open on Sunday. Alcaraz continued the match in a dominant manner similar to his last match and bageled Lajovic in just 24 minutes. In his previous match against Argentinian Facundo Bagnis, Alcaraz bageled Bagnis in the first set and won the match losing just 2 games. Alcaraz is aiming to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ by claiming to win Miami Open after winning Indian Wells on 20th March. Follow Miami Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Spain’s teen phenom won Indian Wells to retake the top ranking last week and kept the momentum going at Hard Rock Stadium as he fired off 26 winners to set up a fourth-round meeting with Australian Open semi-finalist Tommy Paul.
Alcaraz gives his thoughts on the match
“I always think that you have to go for it,” he told the Tennis Channel after the match. “That’s what I told myself in (those) tough moments.”
Lajovic stunned three-times Grand Slam winner Andy Murray in the first round but never hit his stride on Sunday, letting his only break point chance slip through his fingers in the first set as the U.S. Open winner put on a near-flawless performance.
Alcaraz converted on a break point in the third game of the second set with an expertly placed forehand winner but helped his opponent to a break in the 10th game with a handful of uncharacteristic errors.
Lajovic refused to go down without a fight, fending off three match points in the tiebreak. But Alcaraz never lost his nerve and clinched it with a blistering backhand winner before pumping his fist triumphantly.
“Everything was under control,” said Alcaraz, who greeted the Miami Heat’s six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler courtside after the match.
Game recognize game 🎾🏀@carlosalcaraz 🤝 @JimmyButler#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/DoQa1UdVwY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2023
“But end of match is never easy. The nerves came out. I made a few mistakes that I didn’t do around the whole match. So it was tough to win.”
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