Revenge time in Melbourne? Kecmanovic on Alcaraz test

Carlos Alcaraz and Miomir Kecmanovic played one of the best matches of the 2022 season in Miami, where the Spaniard clawed past the Serbian in a deciding-set tie-break.

On Monday, the pair will renew their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry at the Australian Open after Kecmanovic equalled his best major result by advancing to the fourth round in Melbourne.

“I tried to forget that match in Miami very quickly in many ways because it sucked at the end! But looking overall, it was some of the best tennis I played,” Kecmanovic told ATPTour.com. “I feel like now I'm kind of back to that level and maybe even further with the physical part."

In Miami, Alcaraz's imprint on the match was highlighted by his 52/40 winners-to-unforced-errors count as he looked for every opportunity to attack. Kecmanovic, who did his best to keep his opponent on the back foot, registered a 19/16 mark.

_{^{Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}}
Since then, Kecmanovic has started working with Ivan Cinkus, who is the former coach of Marin Cilic. Cinkus is clear in what his charge will have to do if he is to upset the World No. 2.

”He needs to be aggressive,” Cinkus told ATPTour.com. “If he's going to just put the ball in, Carlos is going to kill him. He will then have to run more and more. And being aggressive is what we want to do this year in his matches. We want to be attacking and finish points, so he's not running all the time.

“Alcaraz has improved since their last match in 2022 and Miomir is much more aggressive, so it's going to be a good match. The first two shots after the serve and after the return are going to be so important.”

The nickname 'Ironman' could be attributed to Kecmanovic in Melbourne, where he has twice saved match points and won five-set epics.

The No. 60 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings saved two match points to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff in a five-set tie-break in the second round before he rallied from two sets to one down to overcome last year’s semi-finalist Tommy Paul, saving two match points in the fourth set.

Kecmanovic also spent three hours and 40 minutes on court against Jack Draper in Adelaide earlier this month. The Serbian is pleased with his physical conditioning and ability to play his best in crucial moments, having played 14 sets so far across three matches in Melbourne.

“I have worked a lot physically to get better,” Kecmanovic said. “There is so much more we can do, but for the time that we have had, with Ivan, I think we have done an amazing job and it's showing. I'm playing back-to-back matches over three, four hours. The body feels great.

“When down, I have just tried to apply even more focus into what I'm doing in those moments and sometimes it doesn't pay off. This time it's paying off. I’d rather win in straight sets always. But this route is ok too. I'm happy with myself that I’ve been physically and mentally strong the whole time.”

Kecmanovic started working with Cinkus in February 2023 but struggled to find his best level last season. He reached finals in Delray Beach and Estoril, but failed to win consecutive matches at 22 of the 30 tour-level events he played.

However he and Cinkus remained patient and committed to each other, with his fourth round run in Melbourne a positive sign.

“We had a tough year last year,” Kecmanovic said. “It was really tough to stay positive last year, but you have to have good people around you who are there, to keep pushing you, to keep motivating you when things were not great. I have so many people to thank for that.

“But now we had some time to work on some things and it is proving good. We have a good connection. I think these results are definitely a reward for me, for my team, for everybody that was a part of that disastrous last year. I'm happy that I was able to do this. I feel like there's a lot more that I can do to improve and we're going to work on those things, but this run is showing us that we're doing the right things, that we're on the right track.”

Cinkus is pleased with the progress the pair is making.

“We needed to practise a little bit more to achieve what we wanted and improve his fitness levels,” Cinkus said. “We had a good preseason in Dubai and he worked really hard on his fitness. With his tennis, we have worked on his serve, finishing points and keeping his forehand in court and using his backhand, which is his weapon. He just needed to be a little more confident in that.

“The most important thing is that he knows that what we do is helping him. I am satisfied as the coach that he's believing more and more in what we do. We are now really good. He feels that he can do much better now.”

Kecmanovic will hope all his hard work pays off when he faces two-time major champion Alcaraz, who expects a battle.

“I remember that match in 2022 in Miami. He played an unbelievable match. Myself as well,” said Alcaraz, who is aiming to reach the AO quarter-finals for the first time. “I think it's going to be the same war. He has beaten big guys here in this tournament, so I have to be prepared to do war again. Hopefully to take in three sets, but nobody knows. I need to play my best level if I want to move on.”

For Kecmanovic, the plan is clear.

“I have to take it to him,” Kecmanovic said. “Play the way that I have and be aggressive, be patient, be everything at the same time. I need to be full throttle. I'm excited for this match and hopefully this time it goes better for me.”