Carlos Alcaraz vs Corentin Moutet prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2026
Alcaraz survived a 78-minute first set in the second round.
Carlos Alcaraz came close to dropping a set against Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday. The World No. 1 rallied from 1-3 in the opening set, breaking the German’s serve and forcing a tiebreak. Hanfmann proved resilient and kept pace with his younger foe as Alcaraz took 78 minutes to close out the opening set.
In the tie-break, Hanfmann pulled off a drop shot that left Alcaraz scrambling to equalise at 1-1. A Hanfmann forehand found the net to hand the Spaniard the first set.
Alcaraz broke the German’s serve twice in the decider as he took control of the match and crossed the finish line in two hours and 45 minutes. The World No. 1 recorded 41 winners and 12 aces en route to the 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 victory.
The top seed now faces crafty Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third round. Moutet defeated American Michael Zheng to set up a face-off with the 22-year-old Alcaraz.
With the win over Zheng, Moutet has equalled his best result at Melbourne from last season. The Frenchman advanced when Zheng retired in the fourth set. Moutet was leading two sets to one and 2-0 in the fourth.
The Paris native’s time on Court 6 was dotted by 41 winners and 10 aces, besides a 100% breakpoint conversion rate.
Match details
- Tournament: Australian Open 2026
- Round: Third Round
- Date: January 23
- Venue: Melbourne, Australia
- Surface: Hard Court
Also Read: Top five title favourites in men’s singles at Australian Open 2026
Preview
Alcaraz and Moutet will cross paths for the first time on the ATP tour. Moutet, the No. 32 seed, is 2-17 lifetime against the ATP Top 10, a statistic that is crucial to consider in the upcoming fixture.
So far, at the 2026 Australian Open, it has been the Alcaraz show, with the Spaniard finding his rhythm early and yet to drop a set this year.
Alcaraz, a six-time Grand Slam champion, is chasing the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, the only trophy missing from his collection.
Moutet’s best results at Grand Slams are the Round of 16 appearances at the US Open (2022) and Roland Garros (2024).
Form
- Carlos Alcaraz: W-W-L-W-W
- Corentin Moutet: W-W-L-L-L
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 0
- Carlos Alcaraz: 0
- Moutet: 0
Stats
Carlos Alcaraz
- Alcaraz has a 2-0 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Alcaraz has a 13-4 win-loss record at the Australian Open
- Alcaraz has won 77% of matches played on hard courts
Corentin Moutet
- Moutet has a 2-0 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Moutet has a 7-6 win-loss record at the Australian Open
- Moutet has won 46% of matches played on hard courts
Carlos Alcaraz vs Corentin Moutet: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Alcaraz -3260, Moutet +2945
- Spread: Alcaraz -9.5 (-127), Moutet +9.5 (+105)
- Total Games: Over 27.5 (-116), Under 27.5 (+103)
- First Set Winner: Alcaraz -900, Moutet +613
Match prediction
Alcaraz faced more than he bargained for against Yannick Hanfmann as the German put the Spaniard through the wringer in the opening set. The top seed didn’t look back after he wrestled the first set and breezed past the final two, keeping his Australian Open campaign on track.
Barring an early hiccup, the Spaniard found his way into the third round to bring up his 86th match win on the Grand Slam stage.
A 36-7 win-loss record from Alcaraz over the last 52 weeks speaks for itself as he readies himself for his third-round clash against Moutet. The Frenchman is not quite at home on hard courts, having lost four of his last five matches on the surface, and Alcaraz is sure to exploit that weakness.
The Spaniard will look to dictate the rallies early and counterattack the French left-hander. Moutet will rely on his ability to mix things up and strike deep shots to bring Alcaraz to the net. He used the tactic to good effect against Michael Zheng in the second round.
Result: Carlos Alcaraz to win in straight sets.
Where and how to watch live telecast and live streaming of Carlos Alcaraz vs Corentin Moutet third-round match at Australian Open 2026?
The clash will be broadcast on the Sony Network for Indian viewers. Residents of the United States can tune in to the Tennis Channel and ESPN. Fans in the United Kingdom can stream the match on Eurosport.
Full worldwide broadcast details here
Where and when will Carlos Alcaraz vs Corentin Moutet third-round match take place at Australian Open 2026?
The match will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on January 23 (Friday). The third-round match is scheduled to be played at 1:30 PM local time 8:00 am in India.
Has Carlos Alcaraz and Corentin Moutet faced each other before?
No, this is the first time they will face each other on tour.
Who is the favourite to win the third-round match?
Moutet is not quite at home on hard courts, having lost four of his last five matches on the surface and Alcaraz is sure to exploit that weakness.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.