Carlos Alcaraz’s younger brother Jamie started the Lacoste World Championship with a win. The 13-year-old defeated Lithuania’s Erikas Balkunas
in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the qualifying round and will now
participate in the draw for the main round.
The win is a significant one considering the fact that legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal famously won the tournament during the early days of his professional career. He lifted the competition, beating Julien
Gely in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-1. Jamie’s brother Alcaraz also played in the competition back
in 2017. Denmark’s Holger Rune was also featured in that competition.
Both players
are currently taking part in the Australian Open. Alcaraz booked his place in the quarterfinal of the first Grand Slam of the year after his opponent, Jack Draper, was forced to retire from the contest because of hip discomfort. The match's final score was 7-5, 6-1. He will now face the former world number one
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the last-eight clash. The 37-year-old, who is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category, registered his place in the last eight after beating Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
On the other hand, Rune cemented his spot in the fourth
round after beating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set thriller with a
score of 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. He will face world number one Italy’s Jannik
Sinner, who registered his place in the last 16 after beating America’s Marcos
Giron in the round of 32 in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.