Carlos Alcaraz continues injury comeback in Buenos Aires with ‘solid’ Argentina Open victory in second match of the year

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz continued his return from injury with a routine straight-set victory over Dusan Lajovic to reach the semi-finals of the Argentina Open.

The US champion beat Lajovic 6-4 6-2 on Friday night, one day after eliminating Laslo Dere in three sets on his highly anticipated return.

Alcaraz, 19, was forced to miss the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury, and subsequently lost his spot at the top of the ATP rankings to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.

“I think I played really, really well from the beginning until the last ball, the last point,” Alcaraz said after the match. “I knew that it was going to be really, really difficult.

“Dusan is playing great on clay, [he is] a great player, a really tough one. I had to be really, really solid from deep in the court.

“My second match of the year and I’m really happy with my performance.”

The teenager utilised a variety of skills in his arsenal to edge beyond Lajovic, from his troublesome backhand passing shots to his typically devastating drop shots.

He grew into the match, displaying his best tennis towards the end of the second set as his confidence, and in turn, his aggressiveness, increased.

Entering the Argentina Open, Alcaraz had not played a match since last year’s Rolex Paris Masters due to an internal oblique muscle tear.

Since his return, he has shown no sign of injury or discomfort, and next up for Alcaraz in Buenos Aires is Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the final four.