All eyes have been on Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros, wherein the nineteen-12 months-old Spaniard exceeded his first test on Sunday with flying colours.
The sixth seed removed fortunate loser Juan Ignacio Londero 6-four, 6-2, 6-0 after one hour and 50 mins to reach the second round at the clay-courtroom fundamental. Alcaraz will next face countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
“It became tough at the beginning, however it’s constantly special to play in one of these tremendous stadium, a brilliant courtroom,” Alcaraz said. “I’m honestly satisfied with the overall performance in my first match in Philippe Chatrier, and desire to play greater matches [on] this courtroom.”
A lot has changed for the teenager during the last yr. At Roland Garros 365 days in the past, Alcaraz become No. 97 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and had to qualify (which he did, advancing to the 0.33 spherical of the main draw). Now he’s one of the main favourites at the match, having received two of the season’s first five ATP Masters 1000 occasions.
One of these triumphs got here in Madrid, wherein Alcaraz ousted Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in consecutive fits to stake his claim as a contender in Paris. His victory on Sunday did nothing to alternate that reputation, however he is not demanding approximately the attention.
“I am seeking to be focussed just at the tournaments, on the suits, and [now not] looking to be part of the social media and every body talking approximately you,” Alcaraz stated. “[I] just focus on what I have to improve, what I should do [in] the suits, what I have to do… each day to be prepared within the event.”
Alcaraz faced an experienced opponent in Londero, who advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros 3 years in the past on his Grand Slam main draw debut. But the 28-yr-vintage Argentine turned into unable to find enough consistency to position his more youthful opponent, who gained the very last 10 video games of the suit, into an awful lot issue.
In the primary set, Londero played with a long way greater aggression than everyday to save you Alcaraz from dominating their baseline exchanges. And for the most component, that strategy proved sound.
But after missing a forehand lengthy to present Alcaraz set factor, Londero dumped a backhand into the internet to relinquish the first ruin of the in shape and with it, the opening set. Alcaraz roared “Vamos!” and by no means seemed back, taking complete manipulate from there.
The Spaniard never performed out of doors of his normal sport on Court Philippe Chatrier, counting on his powerful groundstrokes and deft drop shot. Londero ignored a forehand wide to go down 2-four in the 2nd set and his level slipped from there.
Alcaraz, who struck 22 winners inside the match, gave his team a quiet fist pump after watching a very last Londero backhand sail lengthy. He did not face a spoil point in his victory and converted six of his 12 possibilities.
It will no longer get easier in opposition to Ramos-Vinolas, who battled past Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-four, four-6, 6-four, 7-6(5) after 4 hours and seven minutes.
Ironically, Alcaraz faces Ramos-Vinolas in his first ATP Tour principal draw match years in the past in Rio de Janeiro. That day, the youngster emerged victorious after 3 hours and 37 minutes on the Brazilian clay. Alcaraz also defeated Ramos-Vinolas in closing yr’s Umag semi-finals en direction to his first tour-level name.