Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner began their grass court campaigns with victory.
Starting with Alcaraz, the Roland Garros champion defeated lucky loser Adam Walton 6-4 7-6(4) to begin his Queen’s Club campaign.
The Spaniard was due to play compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before Davidovich Fokina withdrew due to illness.
However, Alcaraz dealt with the change in opponent well as he moves into the second round to play Jaume Munar.
Speaking about his first match on grass Alcaraz admitted he was happy to return to Queen’s Club, “I feel great, I feel super happy to be back on grass,” the Spaniard told the ATP website.
“It’s a special surface, a special place to me. In these nine days I have done everything: rest up, practising, playing a match again. It has been nine great days and I’m happy to be back here.”
The player that Alcaraz defeated in the Roland Garros final was also in action today in the form of world number one Jannik Sinner.
Sinner defeated Yannick Hanfmann 7-5 6-3 to progress to the second round where he will meet Alexander Bublik in a rematch from Roland Garros.
Speaking about his win Sinner was happy with the performance and described Bublik as ‘unpredictable,’ “I’m very happy about my performance,” the Italian told the ATP website.
“First matches are never easy on grass, and also second and third matches, so let’s see what’s coming in the next round. I think tomorrow I have the day off, which is good, because the body feels different on this surface. Let’s see how I’m going to react.
“The unexpected. He’s a great player. A great talent. A huge talent, actually, and grass is his favourite surface. He beat me here in Halle, he won [the trophy] here in Halle, so it’s for sure a place he loves to play.
“I’m trying to stay calm mentally and trying to see what I can reach. He’s a great talent, a great server and he can do whatever he wants. It’s hopefully going to be a good match.”
Both Alcaraz and Sinner will be in action again on Thursday in their second round matches.
