World primary Carlos Alcaraz made an emphatic begin to his Miami Open title defence, defeating Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 6-0, 6-2 on Friday.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, the youngest ever participant to prime the rankings, is trying to full the “Sunshine Double” after beating Daniil Medvedev in last week’s Indian Wells final.
Alcaraz made a blistering start winning the first 11 points of the match, with the 33-year-old Bagnis having no answer at all to the teenager’s powerful serve.
There was a loud cheer from the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium when Bagnis, who has never beaten a top 20-ranked player, held serve in the second set and then broke Alcaraz to make it 2-2.
But that was a brief moment of respite for Bagnis rather than any shift in momentum and Alcaraz had no further problems as he blasted his way to victory in just 65 minutes.
ALSO READ| UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers: France Decimate Hapless Netherlands 4-0 as Kylian Mbappe Nets Brace
“To start a new tournament is never easy, different conditions. I have to be ready to get used to these new conditions, but I was really focused on the match from the beginning, and I’m happy with the way that I played,” stated the Spaniard.
Alcaraz must win right here to take care of his prime spot within the rankings, will face both Serbian Dusan Lajovic or American Maxime Cressy within the third spherical.
After his win in Miami final yr, Alcaraz boldly predicted he was able to win a Grand Slam and he returns now having achieved that aim and, he concedes, as a distinct man.
“I grew up so much since final yr. It has been an excellent yr for me as a participant, as an individual as properly. I realized lots of issues, not solely on courtroom, additionally off the courtroom, as properly,” he said.
His whirlwind year caught up with him physically – he had to miss January’s Australian Open with a leg injury – and the Spaniard says he is now more careful about his physical condition.
“I have to take care of myself a little bit more off the court, taking care about going early to bed, to rest better, eat well, take care of myself off the court. That’s the most important thing for me,” he stated.
Fritz wins
It was additionally an easy begin to the event for America’s prime ranked participant, world quantity 10 Taylor Fritz who noticed off 21-year-old Californian Emilio Nava 6-4, 6-1.
Nava’s ultra-attacking type had earned him an upset win over John Isner within the earlier spherical and he hit some spectacular winners early in opposition to Fritz.
But Fritz stored his calm and with the primary set below his belt, picked off Nava with ease within the second.
Fritz felt Nava, a promising expertise, had made a typical mistake of younger arrivals on the tour.
“I feel that he ought to simply play his sport extra. In these sort of matches I really feel like he perhaps felt like he needed to play a lot larger than his capability on this match. Just the way in which he was simply form of going for winners off all the things within the first set. It was working, however it’s powerful to maintain,” he stated.
“That’s something that I did as well when I was a kid. I remember the first time I played — different comparison, but my first time I played (Rafael) Nadal I tried to overplay and hit crazy shots. I guess just keep working hard and raise your average level,” he added.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner additionally progressed to the third spherical with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in opposition to Laslo Djere.
After reaching the ultimate in his Miami debut in 2021 and reaching the quarter-finals final yr, the 21-year-old Italian will probably be trying to go deep once more.
Russian Andrey Rublev defeated American J.J. Wolf 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, recovering after being damaged within the opening sport of the match.
Rublev, who fired 16 aces, wrapped up the win in 41 minutes.
Read all of the Latest Sports News right here
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
