Tennis – Australian Open 2025 – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 15, 2025 Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in motion during his second round match against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. REUTERS/Edgar Su
MELBOURNE–After clubbing 14 aces in a whirlwind victory on the Australian Open 2025 on Wednesday, Carlos Alcaraz made no secret of his aspirations for his retooled serve.
“Am I a serve bot?” Alcaraz scribbled on a camera lens at Margaret Court Arena where he thrashed Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4 to succeed in the third round.
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Serving has been on the four-times Grand Slam champion’s mind at Melbourne Park after tweaking his motion within the off-season.
Australian Open 2025: Schedule, how you can watch on TV, betting odds
He was not thrilled with its performance in his first round win against Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko where he landed lower than 60% of his first serves and had six aces.
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Wednesday’s figures were more encouraging for the meticulous Spaniard, who greater than doubled the ace count and won 32 out of 36 points (89%) on his first serve.
It got here after a protracted service training session with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero on Tuesday.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko after their men’s singles match on day two of the Australian Open 2025 in Melbourne on January 13, 2025. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)
“I felt more comfortable on it, yes. I believe the serve’s about confidence and feelings,” he told reporters.
“Today I felt great. The throw of the ball was great today, which it helps lots within the serve today.”
READ: Carlos Alcaraz makes fast start in bid for first Australian Open 2025 title
Though having won the French Open and a second Wimbledon crown last yr together with his previous serving motion, Alcaraz was unhappy with its accuracy and overall strain on the body.
The brand new movement is a bit more relaxed with a looser wrist to try to enhance timing.
Alcaraz said he still has much improve on if he desires to rival the highest “serve bots” like American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
As third seed with 4 Grand Slam titles under his belt, Alcaraz would appear a shoo-in for center court scheduling at Melbourne Park but has played each his matches this yr at Margaret Court Arena.
Players can submit their preferences to organizers but there are not any guarantees they will probably be accommodated.
Alcaraz said he would quite play on Rod Laver Arena’s center court, where women’s double defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and 10-times champion Novak Djokovic had the early slots on Wednesday.
But he was content to maintain playing on the lesser courts if it meant an early night’s sleep.
“Obviously I need to play on Rod Laver, but we’ve got to see the schedule, as well. As I said repeatedly, I don’t wish to play night sessions.”
