Carlos Alcaraz registered a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 win against Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the third round of the Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena on Friday. The Spaniard dropped his first set of the competition but he was delighted to get a win and move forward.

This was Alcaraz’s first match of the tournament at the Rod Laver Arena and he said he loves playing at the iconic venue. 

The four-time Slam champion brought his best to the court and came up with some impressive shots in his victory.

“I missed Rod Laver. I’m just really, really happy to be able to play here once again,” Alcaraz said post-match. “I tried to show my best tennis here. For me, it has been a pleasure every time that I step on this court… The last time that I played here I lost [to Alexander Zverev in the 2024 quarter-finals], so I really wanted to play here and get another win here in Rod Laver.”

The 21-year-old said he loves playing in front of a packed Australian crowd and tried giving the fans a good experience.

“I’m just happy to see a full crowd here watching my matches,” Alcaraz said of his show-stopping tennis. “It’s just a privilege to feel this love here in Australia, in the other part of the world. I’m trying to play different tennis, some different kinds of shots. That’s what makes me enjoy playing tennis, what makes me smile on court and helps me to show really good tennis — and try to entertain the people as well, making them happy.”

Alcaraz will look to keep up the good form in the upcoming matches. He will face either Jack Draper or Aleksandar Vukic in the fourth round of the Happy Slam.