Alcaraz admitted afterwards that he was disappointed with the slow start he made against the world No.6 and was frustrated with his inability to sustain the level of tennis that had won him the third-set tiebreak.

“Let’s say I’m glad to end in the third set playing great tennis,” explained the 20-year-old who committed 45 unforced errors on the night. “Then the beginning of the fourth set, I couldn’t stay at this level. It was a pity.

“I think I had chances, you know… 4-3 in the fourth set. I didn’t take it. You know, a lot of up-and-downs with my level, with my tennis, with the serves.

“That’s it. I have to improve. I have to still [keep] working on it, and let’s see in the future.”

Despite his disappointment, the two-time major champion said he must try to see a quarterfinal finish as a positive experience, given he missed the trip to Australia at the start of 2023 due to injury .

“It has been a good tournament for me, making quarterfinals, playing good tennis,” he reflected.

INTERVIEW: “I have to be myself” – Alcaraz keeping it real at AO 2024

“In general, you know, I leave the tournament happy. Forgetting about today’s level. In general I think I did a pretty good tournament.

“I played great matches. And obviously quarterfinal of a Grand Slam is good. Is not what I’m looking for, but is not bad, you know. Quarterfinal is a good run.”