The Spanish Carlos Alcarazcurrent Wimbledon champion, began his tour on grass and the defense of his title in Queen’s with a victory in two sets, 6-1 and 7-5, against Francisco Cerúndolo (N.26), this Tuesday in London.
The world number two, who has just won his third Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, nevertheless found it difficult to adapt to the new surface.
The first seed of the London tournament took the first set with authority against Cerúndolo, No. 2 of Argentina, but his level dropped at the beginning of the second, in which he went 5-2 down.
From there he bounced back, saving three set points on serve at 4-5 before sealing the victory and extending his winning streak on grass to 13 matches.
The Spaniard, who after winning at Queen’s last year won his first Wimbledon, will face the British Jack Draper, the Argentine’s executioner, in the next round. Mariano Navone.
“The first match of any tournament is never easy, but it is even more difficult here on grass, at the beginning of the tour,” Alcaraz acknowledged. “You want to get a good result and you have to manage the high expectations you place on yourself. I’m very happy with the match and it was a good test, playing with Francisco.”
Before, Lorenzo Musetti eliminated the Australian Alex De Miñaur, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, and the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (N.24) won a match that had been suspended the day before due to the slippery state of the grass against the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich (N.33), 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-1.
Another Argentine, Sebastian Baez (N.19), lost to the American Tommy Paul (N.13), who will be Tabilo’s next rival.
To complete the bad day of the Albiceleste armada, Tomás Martín Etcheverry he lost to Britain’s Billy Harris 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Results of the day at Queen’s
First round
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.1) defeated Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 6-1, 7-5
Jack Draper (GBR) Mariano Navone (ARG) 6-3, 6-2
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-1
Tommy Paul (USA/N.5) Sebastián Báez (ARG) 6-4, 6-4
Sebastian Korda (USA) Karen Khachanov (RUS) 7-5, 7-6 (7/5)
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) Ugo Humbert (FRA/N.8) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6)
Andy Murray (GBR) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Taylor Fritz (USA/N.4) Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-3, 6-3
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) Ben Shelton (USA/N.6) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)
Billy Harris (GBR) Tomás Etcheverry (ARG) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Brandon Nakashima (USA) Daniel Evans (GBR) 4-6, 6-3, 0-0 and abandonment
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.2) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Source: Ambito
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