Carlos Alcaraz makes winning return from injury at Argentina Open in three-set win over Laslo Djere

Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return from injury as he battled past Laslo Djere at the Argentina Open.

The Spaniard, who had not played competitively since November, came through 6-2 4-6 6-2 to book a quarter-final with another Serbian, Dusan Lajovic.

“It’s a great feeling to win again,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a long time for me with no competition, with no matches, just recovering. Finally I got my first win of 2023.”

In a raucous atmosphere on the Buenos Aires clay, the 19-year-old started brightly, breaking twice in the first set and proving impenetrable on serve to take it.

But the rustiness began to show in the second as he offered up seven break opportunities, with Djere eventually capitalising to draw level as Alcaraz faltered when serving to stay in the set.

That proved only a minor blip for Alcaraz, who delighted the crowd with his racquet skills between points, as he continued to marry explosive baseline hitting with deft drop shots to cruise through the decider.

“I’m really happy [in Buenos Aires]. I didn’t expect such a great crowd, a great atmosphere behind me,” he added.

“So I just can say thank you to all the fans here in Buenos Aires for the warm welcome that I received in this first match and I hope to keep going with this energy.”