Carlos Alcaraz remained composed after a rift with the umpire during his first-round win at the China Open against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Confronted by France’s new towering youngster, Carlos Alcaraz carefully advanced to the second-round, continuing his charge from the Laver Cup.
A few inches short of seven foot tall, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who is four months younger than Alcaraz, has enjoyed a successful year on tour, reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Today however, Alcaraz was on song straight away breaking in the Frenchman’s opening game.
Precisely reading the big serve, the Spaniard was disciplined throughout, limiting his opponent to just seven aces.
Despite surviving three break-points himself, Alcaraz converted two from two, to ultimately close the match out 6-4, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz still insists he must improve in the next round of the China Open
Still one of the younger faces on tour, Alcaraz’s victory was just his third tour-level match against a younger opponent.
Despite having notched up his 44th win of the season, as well as qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin earlier this week, Alcaraz is still keen to finish the year strongly.
“This kind of match it’s really tough to find a good rhythm from the baseline but there are a lot of players have this kind of style, so you have to be really focused on every shot,” Alcaraz explained after the win.
“I am going to practice, I am going to be focused to hit well from the baseline, have good thoughts. I am going to do a little bit of everything. I’m not sure who I am going to play next but I will try to get better and increase my level a little bit.”
After a blip in Cincinnati to Gael Monfils and a shocking upset in the second-round of the US Open, Alcaraz is looking razor-sharp once again.
Who is Carlos Alcaraz set to face in round two?
A semi-finalist last year, Alcaraz is seeded second in the Chinese capital this time round behind last year’s champion Jannik Sinner.
Sinner won his opener against Nicolas Jarry on Thursday to start his title defense off, while last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev also comfortably advanced past Monfils.
Alcaraz will play Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the next round, an opponent he has never lost a set to.
Most recently playing at the Paris Olympics, Alcaraz eased past Griekspoor 6-1, 7-6, on his way to his first gold medal match.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
