Carlos Alcaraz’s commanding performance at the Australian Open left his opponent, Yoshihito Nishioka, so flustered that he jokingly asked his coach to step in and play during their second-round clash. The world No. 3 breezed past Nishioka, winning 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in just 81 minutes, with his revamped serve taking center stage.
Alcaraz’s off-season focus on improving his service motion paid off handsomely, as he won 100% of first-serve points in the first set and recorded just one unforced error. Nishioka, struggling to cope with the relentless pressure, looked visibly defeated. In a moment of frustration, he approached his coach during a break and humorously asked, “Do you want to try?”—a lighthearted request that couldn’t change the course of the match.
Despite Nishioka’s wild celebration when he finally won a game in the second set, Alcaraz quickly regained control, closing out the match with ease. Afterward, Alcaraz took to the camera with a cheeky message, writing, “Am I a servebot now?”—a playful nod to his new serving prowess.
Alcaraz, who is aiming to complete a career Grand Slam, credited his improved serve to focused practice during the off-season. He expressed confidence in his new technique and was clearly feeling good about the progress made. The Spaniard now moves on to face Nuno Borges in the third round, where he will look to continue his dominant form.
