Sometimes Wimbledon is like being in Casablanca waiting for a pass during World War II. It’s about waiting, waiting and waiting and seizing the moment when it’s your turn to play. As in ‘Casablanca’, in this case the film, there is action, passion and protagonists. On Friday, intense after the accumulated delay in the program during the week due to rain, Carlos Alcaraz disguised himself as Humphrey Bogart to take the initiative, defeating Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3 in 2 hours, 32 minutes and reach the third round. Today the Chilean Nicolás Jarry awaits him.
The Murcian was not the bombastic and brilliant tennis player of other days. He came out to play cold in the center of the All England Club and never showed the most radiant version of him after two days in which he simply dedicated himself to training. He did maintain enough concentration and seriousness so as not to complicate his life against a modest but enthusiastic rival. For Muller it was his fifth presence in a Grand Slam and his first match on a central court of these characteristics. Barely 84th in the world and with only eight victories on the circuit at 26 years old, he seemed little more than a sparring partner for Alcaraz.
But the man from Palmar had more problems than expected during many phases of the match. There was no way for him to link several points in a row without fail, he accumulated unforced errors, especially with the right, and he was not as cheerful and artistic. From time to time that did draw an author left or gave the generous public of Wimbledon a volley of draftsman. Select quality drops. They weren’t enough to win easily, but they were enough to keep doing. A break in the seventh game of the first set served to tie him up and in the second there was no way to break Muller’s serve. The Frenchman was even close to breaking Alcaraz’s service, who had to wait for sudden death to unblock the second set. In the tie-break, yes, Alcaraz, like the great tennis players in these cases, was much superior.
On grass, it is essential to be patient and not despair on days when you don’t feel the ball, when you can’t find the distances and when the rhythm is faltering. The best thing for Alcaraz about this match is that he managed not to lose his temper. Neither he celebrated with an excess of enthusiasm the successes nor vociferated after the failures. He dedicated himself almost exclusively to doing the minimum to obtain a victory that he will not keep in his retina but that helps him accumulate experience on the grass. It is only his fourth tournament on this surface and he showed that he needs more rolling.
In the third set Alcaraz certified the victory after a break in the eighth game. Today he will try to take another step forward. Sometimes it shines. In others, he just wins.
