Australian Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz vs Richard Gasquet preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming

Published at :January 16, 2024 at 3:33 AM

Modified at :January 16, 2024 at 3:33 AM

Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing a maiden Australian Open title.

Richard Gasquet – a one-time World No. 7, faces off against 2nd-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz for a chance to progress to the second round of Australian Open 2024. Gasquet, the 37-year-old veteran Frenchman, has 600 overall wins to his name, the most among Frenchmen in the Open Era (since 1968). Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are the only other active players on the ATP Tour with at least 600 wins.

Gasquet owns 16 ATP Tour titles, including the 2023 ASB Classic, his first since 2018. Richard Gasquet also spent his career under the long shadows of the top 3 – Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.

Carlos Alcaraz entered the tennis scene and the ATP Tour when he won the Croatia Open in 2021 in his debut year. The 2022 season was his breakout year that saw him win five titles, including his maiden Grand Slam – the US Open. The young Spaniard also defeated Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic back to back in the 2022 ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

Alcaraz went on to add six more titles in 2023. Alcaraz has the mantle of being the youngest and first teenage World No. 1 and year-end No. 1 since the ATP Rankings were first published in 1973.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Richard Gasquet Preview

In the upcoming first-round match at the Australian Open 2024, Richard Gasquet will face off against Carlos Alcaraz, the man who defeated him in Umag, Croatia, in 2021 and handed the Frenchman a straight-set defeat. That was the Spaniard’s first victory on the ATP Tour. The winner will go on to face either Daniel Evans of the UK or Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second round.

Alcaraz’s best performance on the hard courts of Melbourne Park was in the 2022 season when he reached the third round before losing to Matteo Berrettini. Gasquet has reached the round of 16 in the season-opening Major.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 1

Carlos Alcaraz – 1

Richard Gasquet – 0

Richard Gasquet and Carlos Alcaraz have met just once in their careers at the Croatian Open final in 2021. Alcaraz was a dominant force that day on the clay courts of Croatia, besting Gasquet in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 in just 77 minutes.

Indian Sports Live Coverage on Khel Now

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Carlos Alcaraz vs Richard Gasquet, Australian Open 2024, first round match in India?

Viewers can enjoy the Carlos Alcaraz vs Richard Gasquet on the Sony Network. Fans have two options for enjoying the competition as it beams into their homes. The network broadcasts the Australian Open 2024 live on its TV Channels, the Sony Ten Bouquet, available in standard and high definition. For fans who wish to prefer the option of live streaming, there is the SonyLiv service.

Prediction

While Gasquet may have the status of underdog courtesy of his World No. 131 ranking, he brings plenty of experience to the table. On paper, both competitors appear to be evenly poised when it comes to their performances at the Australian Open.

While Gasquet has been around for longer, Alcaraz has tasted significant success within his short time as a professional player. However, Alcaraz has seen a dip in fortunes towards the latter half of the 2023 season. Victory was elusive since winning at Wimbledon, and the Spaniard hasn’t played a final since losing the Cincinnati Masters title to Djokovic in straight sets.

Result: Carlos Alcaraz to win in Four sets.

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