Carlos Alcaraz expresses support for Adamuz train crash victims after second-round win at Australian Open 2026
(Courtesy : @carlosalcaraz/Twitter/Screengrab)
Alcaraz will play Corentin Moutet in the third round at Australian Open 2026.
While the tennis world watched Carlos Alcaraz advance to the third round of the ongoing Australian Open 2026, the world No. 1 took a moment to throw light on a tragedy unfolding in his home country.
Alcaraz defeated Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2 in the second-round match on January 21, Wednesday on Rod Laver Arena. The first set alone lasted 78 minutes, that witnessed the Spaniard recover from a 3-1 deficit in the opening set to dominate the remainder of the match. It took 2 hours and 44 minutes for Alcaraz to win the match making it the longest straight-sets win of his Grand Slam career.
However, amid the joy of victory, Alcaraz’s thoughts were with the victims of the Adamuz high-speed train collision in Cordoba, Spain.
After the match, he wrote a message in Spanish on the camera lens, “Mucho ánimo a lo que está pasando en Espana.” In English it transaltes to, “Lots of encouragement regarding what’s happening in Spain”.
The tragic incident occurred on January 18, when two high-speed trains collided near the town of Adamuz. One of the trains partially derailed and ended up on the adjacent track, where it was hit by another oncoming train.
The crash killed at least 42 people while 43 civillians are still missing and 37 victims, including four children, remain in hospital, according to ABC Newspaper.
The heartbreak didn’t end there. Just two days later, a commuter train crash in Gelida, near Barcelona, claimed the life of the driver and left 37 people injured. The authorities believe that heavy rainfall from Storm Harry might have caused the retaining wall to collapse.
Speaking of the Spain’s tennis sensation Alcaraz, he is set to face Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third round on Friday. This will be the first professional match between Alcaraz and Moutet on the ATP Tour.
In the campagn opener, the World No.1 defeated Australian hometown favorite Adam Walton in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. With this victory, Alcaraz extended his record in first-round Grand Slam matches to 20-0.
What did Carlos Alcaraz say about the train tragedy in Spain?
After his second-round win, Alcaraz wrote on the camera lens in Spanish: “Mucho ánimo a lo que está pasando en España”, which translates to “Lots of encouragement regarding what’s happening in Spain.”
Who did Carlos Alcaraz defeat in the second round of Australian Open 2026?
He defeated Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2.
How long did the match last?
The match lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes, marking the longest straight-sets win of Alcaraz’s Grand Slam career.
What happened in the Adamuz train accident?
On January 18, 2026, two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz, Córdoba. At least 42 people died, 43 are still missing, and 37 victims—including four children—remain hospitalized.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.