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Nick Kyrgios spotted one mistake Carlos Alcaraz was making at the Australian Open today

Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
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Nick Kyrgios has outlined one mistake Carlos Alcaraz made in his Australian Open win earlier today.

The Australian was once again on on Eurosport’s co-commentator duties for the Spaniard’s straight sets win over Richard Gasquet.

So, what did the controversial 28-year-old have to say about the world number two? Let’s take a closer look…

The one Carlos Alcaraz mistake Nick Kyrgios pointed out

Kyrgios is offering a refreshing change of pace in the commentary box at the moment, with his no-nonsense analysis a useful tool for viewing the insights of a player on tour.

2024 Australian Open - Day 3
Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

With his ongoing injury troubles ruling him out, he was instead forced to laud Alcaraz throughout, who grew into the clash as time went on.

However, despite earning pre-match praise from the legendary John McEnroe, there was one thing that the 2023 Wimbledon winner did that unsettled Kyrgios.

Pointing it out live on Eurosport, he claimed: ‘Alcaraz early on was trying to be a bit too aggressive in some of the break points, trying to force that level to come to him rather than letting the game come to him.

‘Gasquet was right there, honestly, he had the tie break on his racquet but just got a bit too passive but it was fun to watch.

‘Honestly, I think once Gasquet lost that first set he knew that the physicality wasn’t there [to get back into it].’

Carlos Alcaraz is just warming up at the Australian Open

Although he endured a trying first set, in which he could only scrape past the 37-year-old on a tiebreak, he finished in comprehensive fashion winning 6-7 (7), 1-6, 2-6.

He now sets up a second-round clash with Lorenzo Sonego.

And while he strutted his stuff as the game went on, his sluggish start could be attributed to a lack of meaningful game time this season. After all, today was Alcaraz’s first competitive match of 2024.

2024 Australian Open - Day 3
Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

To navigate the awkwardness that Gasquet posed at times was masterful, and then as the veteran lost his physical edge, the 20-year-old pulled away.

As he progresses through the tournament and finds his own physical level yet again, it will take less and less time for him to warm up, and even longer for his opponents to outlast him.

To think that today only marked a fraction of what makes the former world number one so special is frightening, and many will be expecting a deep run in a competition that has eluded him thus far in his infant career.