World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning debut in Rotterdam. The Spaniard faced the home star Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round and scored a 7-6, 3-6, 6-1victory in two hours and 34minutes.
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Carlos trailed 5-3 in the first set and denied a set point on the return at 4-5. Botic responded with a single break in the second set, forcing a decider and giving the home crowd something to cheer about. However, the young gun raised his level in the decider.
Alcaraz delivered two breaks to sail over the top, avenging last year's US Open defeat. The four-time Major winner could face an in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.
They hit 13 double faults and struggled to impose their shots in their service games before the Spaniard raised his level in the decider. Carlos secured four breaks from nine opportunities and got broken three times. They sprayed almost 90 unforced errors!
Van de Zandschulp hit more service winners and stayed in touch with world no. 3 from the baseline. However, he lost the ground in the decider, ending his campaign on the first obstacle. The young gun struggled on serve in the first half of the opener.
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He suffered back-to-back breaks and found himself 5-3 behind. Botic sprayed a set point on serve in the tenth game and allowed his rival to pull the break back and extend the battle. Carlos gained confidence and clinched four mini-breaks in the tie break, taking it 7-3.
The home player survived two challenging service games in the second set and provided a break in the sixth game. Botic held after a deuce at 5-3, forcing a decider and keeping his chances alive. Alcaraz saved a break point at the beginning of the third set.
He clinched a break in the next one for a 2-0 lead and delivered two holds to move 4-1 in front. The Spaniard notched another break in game six, opening a 5-1 gap and sealing the deal with a fine hold in game seven for a place in the second round.
