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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere
Date: February 15, 2022.
Tournament: Argentina Open.
Round: Second round (Round of 16).
Venue: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires.
Category: ATP 250.
Surface: Outdoor Clay.
Prize money: $711,600.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | Australia - beIN Sports.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere preview
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will take on Laslo Djere in the second round of the Argentina Open on Wednesday, February 15.
Alcaraz had a dream of a 2022 season that saw him win his maiden Grand Slam singles title at the US Open and become the youngest-ever World No. 1. Apart from his triumph at Flushing Meadows, the Spaniard also won two Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid.
Alcaraz's 2022 season ended at the Paris Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals and was forced to retire against eventual champion Holger Rune due to an injury. The Spaniard looked set to start his 2023 season at the Australian Open but pulled out of the tournament after suffering an injury during training.
Laslo Djere, on the other hand, has won four out of seven matches so far this season. The Serb started the 2023 season at the Tata Open in Pune where he reached the second round before losing 6-4, 6-4 to Maximilian Marterer.
Djere then took part in the ASB Classic and started the tournament with a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Jaume Munar. He followed it up with a stunning victory against top seed Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-3. 7-6(3) to book his place in the quarter-finals. Here, he lost 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 to Constant Lestienne.
The Serb then competed at the Australian Open and reached the second round before being thrashed 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 by Grigor Dimitrov. He entered the Argentina Open and sealed his place in the round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere head-to-head
The head-to-head between the two is 0-0 as they haven't locked horns before.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere odds
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere prediction
Alcaraz may not have played any professional tennis for a few months but he is expected to defeat Djere, considering his quality and how he fared last season. The Spaniard will be eager to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings and winning the Argentina Open will get him a step closer.
Alcaraz loves to play aggressively from the baseline, but can also defend well. The 19-year-old is a fantastic clay-court player and will look to make the most of his powerful forehand, which can generate a lot of topspin. One of his biggest strengths is his well-disguised drop shots and he can always use them to baffle his opponents.
Djere, meanwhile, is at his best when he plays on clay courts with a 72-47 record on the surface. The Serb beat Casper Ruud, so Alcaraz should not take him lightly. He needs to be as tenacious as he can be, while not making too many errors in order to stand a chance against the World No. 2.
Alcaraz will be playing his first match in over three months but he is good enough to get the better of Djere and book his place in the quarter-finals of the Argentina Open.
Pick: Alcaraz to win in straight sets.
