Australian Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz Dominates To Enter Last 16 After Shang Juncheng Retires

Carlos Alcaraz sent a chilling warning to his Australian Open rivals on Saturday, outclassing Shang Juncheng before the Chinese teenager was forced to retire due to injury.

A day after defending champion Novak Djokovic returned to top form, world number two Alcaraz laid down a marker in a lopsided third-round contest lasting just 66 minutes.

The 20-year-old, playing a tour-level match against a player younger than himself for the first time in his career, was leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 when his 18-year-old opponent had to pull out.

Shang entered the match on Rod Laver Arena with his upper right thigh strapped and received treatment on the injury during the second set.

Dominant Alcaraz did not face a single break point to set up a last-16 meeting with Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, who saved two match points to beat last year’s semi-finalist Tommy Paul 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(9/7), 6-0.

The Spanish second seed is vying with Djokovic for the number one ranking and if they both reach the final it will double as a straight shootout for the top spot.

Alcaraz, who missed last year’s tournament at Melbourne Park with an injury, said it was “not the way anybody wants to move on” after the injury to Shang.

“I missed the tournament last year,” he said. “I was watching the matches at home from the couch, wishing to play in the second week here.

“This is the first time I have moved to the second week in Australia. It feels special.”

In other action on Saturday, women’s 12th seed Zheng Qinwen said she was inspired by Chinese great Li Na’s win in the 2014 final after she beat compatriot Wang Yafan 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8).

“That final I have watched it more than 10 times, so I have a lot of memories,” she said.

“I mean, she was an unbelievable player, the first Asian woman who won the Grand Slam. How can you not remember that.”

Men’s ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz progressed but former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was beaten by Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.