World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz was delighted after he ticked all the right boxes in his straight-set win against Miomir Kecmanovic. The young Spaniard defeated the Serbian by 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

The youngster pushed the Serbian to the limits and played attackingly throughout the match. This is the first time when Alcaraz has qualified for the quarter-final of the Australian Open after missing the previous edition due to injury.

“I’m feeling better and better every day,” said Alcaraz in his on-court interview. “Every match that I play here in Rod Laver Arena, I’m feeling more comfortable. Obviously, it is a pleasure to play here. It’s an amazing court, a beautiful one.

“I enjoy playing here and showing my best level. It feels like home, which is always great, so I hope to keep feeling better and better every day.”

The Spaniard was able to wrap up the match in one hour and 49 minutes and he feels Kecmanovic was a bit tired after playing a two five-setters in his previous outings.

“I think everything [worked] tonight,” said Alcaraz of his display against Kecmanovic. “In Miami in 2022 it was a really close match, a high level from both of us. I think today it was a pretty good match as well, but I pushed him to the limit with every ball, in every point.

“Obviously he has played a lot of matches in five sets, a lot of tough matches before this one, so probably physically he wasn’t at 100 per cent. Every ball I pushed him to the limit, moved him side to side. I took my chances in every set, and I think it was a pretty good match from myself.”

Alcaraz has looked flawless so far in the Happy Slam and he has dropped only one set. The Spaniard’s next opponent at Melbourne Park will be Alexander Zverev, who earlier overcame Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10-3).