The young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz cruises into the second round, showcasing his clay-court mastery in a straight-sets triumph.
Paris [France], May 27 – Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his French Open title defence in commanding style, breezing past Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri in straight sets on Monday. The 21-year-old, aiming to become the first player since Rafael Nadal in 2019-20 to defend his crown in Paris, clinched a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win in one hour and 56 minutes.
“It was really, really solid,” Alcaraz said after the match, as quoted by ATP. “The first round of the tournament is never easy, and coming here as the defending champion could be even tougher. But I just started pretty well and kept my good pace during the whole match.”
Alcaraz’s performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier was nothing short of dazzling. He unleashed a flurry of passing shots from all corners of the court, leaving Zeppieri scrambling to keep up. His aggressive net play and relentless pace ensured there was never any doubt about the outcome.
“I tried to be focused on my game, to get a good rhythm,” Alcaraz added. “I’m just really proud of my start here at Roland Garros, where I was really excited to play my first match this year.”
The victory sees Alcaraz move into the second round, where he will face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan on Wednesday. Alcaraz’s red-hot form on clay continues to impress: he now boasts a 28-2 record on the surface since May last year. This run includes his maiden titles at Monte-Carlo and Rome earlier this season and a silver-medal finish at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
After conquering Rome by defeating World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final, Alcaraz looks poised to maintain his dominance in Paris. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as he seeks to emulate the clay-court legacy of his compatriot Nadal.