ATP Rotterdam: Carlos Alcaraz struggles however wins on debut

World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz made a profitable debut in Rotterdam. The Spaniard confronted the house star Botic van de Zandschulp within the first spherical and scored a 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 victory in two hours and 34 minutes. 

Carlos trailed 5-3 within the first set and denied a set level on the return at 4-5. Botic responded with a single break within the second set, forcing a decider and giving the house crowd one thing to cheer about. Nonetheless, the younger gun raised his stage within the decider. 

Alcaraz delivered two breaks to sail excessive, avenging final 12 months’s US Open defeat. The four-time Main winner may face an in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime within the second spherical. 

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 4, 2025

They hit 13 double faults and struggled to impose their pictures of their service video games earlier than the Spaniard raised his stage within the decider. Carlos secured 4 breaks from 9 alternatives and obtained damaged thrice. They sprayed virtually 90 unforced errors! 

Van de Zandschulp hit extra service winners and stayed in contact with world no. 3 from the baseline. Nonetheless, he misplaced the bottom within the decider, ending his marketing campaign on the primary impediment. The younger gun struggled on serve within the first half of the opener. 

Carlos Alcaraz & Botic van de Zandschulp, Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot

He suffered back-to-back breaks and located himself 5-3 behind. Botic sprayed a set level on serve within the tenth recreation and allowed his rival to drag the break again and prolong the battle. Carlos gained confidence and clinched 4 mini-breaks within the tie break, taking it 7-3. 

The house participant survived two difficult service video games within the second set and supplied a break within the sixth recreation. Botic held after a deuce at 5-3, forcing a decider and maintaining his possibilities alive. Alcaraz saved a break level originally of the third set.

He clinched a break within the subsequent one for a 2-0 lead and delivered two holds to maneuver 4-1 in entrance. The Spaniard notched one other break in recreation six, opening a 5-1 hole and sealing the cope with a positive maintain in recreation seven for a spot within the second spherical.