Why it was ‘tougher’ for Carlos Alcaraz to take on world number 102 in 2026 Australian Open

Carlos Alcaraz admitted it was tougher than expected to beat world number 102 Yannick Hanfmann at the 2026 Australian Open, despite advancing in straight sets.

The world No.1 Spaniard’s third-round clash tested his rhythm early, even though he eventually sealed a 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach the third round at Melbourne Park.

After the match, Alcaraz spoke honestly about the challenge posed by Hanfmann’s level and pace on the big stage.

Carlos Alcaraz admits Yannick Hanfmann was ‘tougher than I thought’

Carlos Alcaraz said after his Australian Open second-round win that his opponent pushed him harder than expected.

“I knew he was going to play great. I mean, I know his level, I played him a few times already. To be honest, it was tougher than I thought at the beginning.

“I didn’t feel the ball that good. You know, the ball was coming as a bomb, forehand and backhand,” Alcaraz stated.

Alcaraz’s second-round match saw some early resistance from the German qualifier, ranked 102 in the world, especially in a closely contested first set that went to a tie-break.

But once the top seed found his groove, he took command to close out the match in straight sets and keep his bid for a maiden Australian Open title alive.

Carlos Alcaraz is happy after a tough opening set

Speaking further about his performance, Alcaraz acknowledged how he turned things around after a difficult opening frame.

“Really, really happy that I got through a really difficult first set and then I started to feel a little bit better on the court,” he concluded.

With the win secured in roughly 2 hours and 44 minutes, Alcaraz moves into the third round, where he will look to build momentum and push deeper into the draw at the Australian Open, a title that has eluded him previously despite his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.