World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open with a dominant straight-sets victory over 32nd seed Corentin Moutet of France on Friday, January 23. The Spaniard controlled the match from the start, hitting 30 winners in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 win in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Alcaraz, a six-time Grand Slam champion, appeared more focused than in his first two rounds, maintaining high intensity under the sun. His first set lasted only 35 minutes, setting the tone for a commanding performance that left Moutet struggling to respond.

Alcaraz seeks elusive Melbourne title

Having never advanced past the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, the 22-year-old Spaniard is determined to capture the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection. His clinical performance on Friday signals that he may be hitting his best form at the right time.

The victory was Alcaraz’s third consecutive straight-sets win at the tournament, reinforcing his status as the player to beat. His dominance over Moutet sends a warning to other contenders still in the draw.

Next challenge in the fourth round

Alcaraz will face American 19th seed Tommy Paul in the fourth round. Paul advanced after a third-round match against 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ended when Davidovich Fokina retired due to injury, despite Paul leading 6-1, 6-1 at the time.

The Spaniard now looks to extend his winning streak at the Australian Open and continue his march toward a first Melbourne Park Grand Slam crown.