Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start to his campaign at the Australian Open by beating French veteran Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 6-2 in 2 hours and 22 minutes inside Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Alcaraz converted four of his sixteen break points and served 56% in the first set.
Alcaraz earned nine break points in the first set but Gasquet fended them off. Gasquet saved three break points in the first game and wasted his break point in the second game. The Frenchman saved three break points at 2-2. Alcaraz earned three break points at 3-3, but Gasquet saved them to hold serve for 4-3. Both players went on serve in the final five games to set up a tie-break. Alcaraz dropped two points on serve at 3-2 and went down 4-5. Alcaraz hit a drop shot winner to draw level to 5-5 and converted his first set point at 6-5 with a winner at the net to close out the tie-break of the first set 7-5 in 72 minutes.
Alcaraz held four service games in the second set and broke Gasquet at love in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. Gasquet saved three break points in the fifth game. Alcaraz earned his second break in the sixth game and held serve at 30 to win the second set 6-1.
Alcaraz broke Gasquet twice in the first and third games and served for the match at 5-2. Gasquet saved a break point in the eighth game, but Alcaraz converted his fifth match point to secure his spot in the second round.
Alcaraz finished the match with 53 winners to Gasquet’s 19.
“It’s always great to play here in Australia. This is the third time that I am playing here. I did not have a good run the years that I have played here, but I enjoyed it a lot and I missed it last year. Today I felt really good, playing here and I enjoyed in front of the crowd. I tried to get better. I think in the first set I struggled a little bit with his game and Richard was playing great as well. Every set, I played better and better, and in the end I think I played quite a good level”, said Alcaraz.
Alcaraz will face Lorenzo Sonego, who beat Daniel Evans 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-4).
The Spaniard is aiming to become the third player to win three Grand Slam titles before the age of 21 after Mats Wilander and Bjorn Borg.
