Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was thoroughly tested in his opening match at the ABN AMRO ATP event in Rotterdam before coming through 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-1 against home player Botic van de Zandschulp – who beat him in a stunning straight-sets upset at last year’s US Open – while Holger Rune needed thirteen breakpoints before winning a late night tussle with Lorenzo Sonego 7-6, 6-4.
Alcaraz – who was sporting a black nose tape to help with his breathing after a recent cold – battled hard for over two and a half hours and overcame 28 unforced errors in the first set as well as dropping the second before finally stamping his authority on the match and running away with the deciding set.
“I knew that he was going to have difficult moments in the match,” said Alcaraz after the match. “The first round of tournaments are never easy against a player with the home crowd. He had a really good start, so I’m just happy to get through these difficult matches and to have another chance to be better in the next round. Getting my first win here Rotterdam has been a special moment, so I’m just really happy with everything.”
Van de Zandschulp played a superb match for most of the contest and surprised his younger opponent with his court coverage. He matched the Spaniard’s sliding ability covering both wings as well as chasing down drop shots, with one particular drop volley leading to applause from Alcaraz at the net.
“[Botic] is complete, he’s really good, he’s really fast and having great shots. He’s capable of making a lot of shots, so that’s what makes it really difficult playing him,” said Alcaraz. “But I’m also happy to know that players have to play their best to beat me.”
The Dutchman had chances to close out the first set but failed and is still searching for his first win this year. “It’s never easy to serve out a set against him,” he said. “I think I did pretty well in the second set after a disappointing end in the first, but he is the number three in the world. I think it could have gone either away, and even at the beginning of the first set. It came back to deuce and Carlos was playing some unbelievable points there. So, overall, I didn’t think the long break affected me after the second set.”
The 29-year-old traded well from the back of the court and regularly got the crowd involved but was up against one of the most fearsome forehands in the game. “I think it’s not a shame when he when he beats me in the forehand-to-forehand rallies. I think I did pretty well holding up at the baseline.”
Meanwhile, fourth seed Alex Rublev beat Zhizhen Zhang in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The Russian hit seven aces and won 78% of points on his first serve, while improving to a 4-0 head-to-head record over his Chinese opponent, helped by breaking him early in both sets. He was in total control of the whole match but wobbled at the end when serving out, pegged back to deuce from 40-0 but finally winning on his fifth match point.
“I think for the first match I played quite well,” said Rublev afterwards. “I arrived Sunday night, just getting in practice for this and getting used to the conditions. It’s a bit different here, I guess because of the balls. The balls are getting really big, so we have a lot of rallies, like we used to have six or seven years ago. It’s unusual now to have rallies because most tournaments now is two or three shots and no rallies. It feels good to play rallies where you can defend or play tactics and slide, change directions. It’s much better when you can create more and open up the court.”
The Russian – famed for his huge forehands and on-court outbursts in equal measure – is not an avid sports fan and admits not following much tennis in between matches: “If I’m not playing on tour or something, I’m not even watching and I’m not really a sport guy. Tonight, it’s just to recover, eat dinner, sleep and rest, get ready for the next match.”
In other results, Russia’s Jakub Mensik showed why he is one of the sport’s rising prospects as he beat Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-4 in less than an hour. He converted three of his seven break point chances and won a staggering 88% of points behind his first delivery, coupled with ten aces. Mensik, still only 19-years-old, is on an upward trajectory and has a current career-high ranking of 47 and is searching for his breakthrough tournament.
Third seed Alex de Minaur also advanced and did not lose serve making light work of veteran David Goffin coming through 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Mensik, and Jiri Lehecka beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 6-2 in the opening match of the day where both players were separated by just two spots in the ATP rankings (24th v 26th).
On Wednesday sees Matteo Berrettini play his first-round match against home hope Tallon Griekspoor, as well as seventh seed Arthur Fils against Constant Lestienne, and Andrea Vavassori playing former champion Felix Auger-Aliassime.
