Alcaraz beats Carabelli in clay-court debut to reach quarter-finals

Buenos Aires: Defending champion and top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals of the Argentina Open by beating Camilo Carabelli 6-2, 7-5 in his first clay-court match of the season.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz came from 2-0 down in the second set against his Argentine opponent.

“I started really nervous, I’m not going to lie, with the crowd behind him, supporting him,” Alcaraz said.

“I think it’s normal, obviously, but really happy with my first match on clay since (the French Open).”

He will next play Italy’s Andrea Vavassori, who beat Laslo Djere of Serbia 6-4, 7-5.

Second-seeded Cameron Norrie, the runner-up last year, lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to Federico Coria of Argentina.

Coria will play the winner between another Argentine, Sebasti n B ez, and Italy’s Luciano

Darderi.