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World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start in Indian Wells. The two-time defending champion faced Quentin Halys in the second round and scored a routine 6-4, 6-2 victory in 67 minutes. Carlos will face Denis Shapovalov in third round.
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The Spaniard claimed 11 points more than the Frenchman. The two-time winner served at only 44% but drew the most from that, dropping one point behind the first serve and defending the second nicely. Alcaraz denied the only break point he faced.
Halys felt the pressure and cracked under it. He fought well but experienced three breaks from five opportunities offered to the favorite, ending his campaign in the second round.
Carlos outplayed Quentin in every department. The four-time Major winner landed 24 winners and 18 unforced errors, while reducing his opponent to a 7-11 ratio. The Spaniard landed 20 service winners and had the upper hand from the baseline to control the scoreboard.
Halys saved a break point in the first game of the duel before facing issues at 1-1. Alcaraz attacked and created two break chances. The young gun converted the second with a running winner at the net, building an early advantage.
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World no. 3 held at 30 for 3-1 and brought the sixth game home to open a 4-2 advantage. Halys fought well after that break he suffered, providing three holds at love and remaining in contention. However, Carlos closed the eighth game at love with a service winner and served for the set at 5-4.
The defending champion missed a forehand and faced a break point. He saved it with a forehand winner and seized a set point after the rival's backhand error for 6-4 in 41 minutes.The Spaniard dominated set number two, barely losing a point on serve and breaking the rival's resistance in the early stages.
Quentin dropped serve in the first game after rushing forward following the serve. Alcaraz cemented the lead with a service winner in game two and painted a forehand crosscourt return winner in the next one for a break point.
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Carlos cracked a backhand down the line winner, delivering another break and moving 3-0 in front. The young gun fired a forehand winner in the fourth game and held at love with a powerful serve for a 4-0 advantage. Halys provided comfortable holds in games five and seven.
However, Alcaraz served for the win at 5-2 and held at 15 with an unreturned serve to move over the top and reach the third round.
