(Buenos Aires) Favorite Carlos Alcaraz won his first match of the year on Wednesday, beating Laslo Djere 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 at the Argentina Open.
Alcaraz earned four of the game’s five breaks.
Champion in New York, the 19-year-old Spaniard did not play at the Australian Open, injured in the back of his thigh.
He ceded the ATP summit to Novak Djokovic, who won the title in Melbourne.
Alcaraz will face Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-finals, after the latter defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-1.
Local favorite Diego Schwartzman will be on the program Thursday, in the round of 16.
Flushing Meadows champion in 2020, Dominic Thiem will also be in action on Thursday.