Young ace Alcaraz rolls in French opener
PARIS – Rising star Carlos Alcaraz showed what the fuss is all about with a quick and clean first-round French Open victory in the main stadium at Roland Garros.
The 19-year-old from Spain never faced a break point while beating Juan Ignacio Londero 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 in less than two hours Sunday.
Alcaraz, who is seeded No. 6, compiled more than twice as many winners as Londero – 22 to 10 – and also made fewer unforced errors in a match that concluded under the artificial lights at Court Philippe Chatrier.
Londero was not necessarily the toughest opponent: He is ranked 141st and lost in qualifying in Paris but got into the main draw when someone else withdrew from the tournament.
But Alcaraz displayed some of the shot-making and steadiness that have carried him to a tour-leading four titles and a 29-3 record in 2022.
He is the youngest man to reach the top 10 in the rankings since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
American teenager Coco Gauff did not let 10 double-faults, 12 break points or a warning from the chair umpire about receiving coaching from Dad disrupt her progress into the second round. The 18-year-old Gauff began her trip with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino.
Gauff ’s best performance at any Grand Slam tournament came a year ago at the French Open, where she reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza was eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row.
Muguruza, who won the title in 2016 and was seeded 10th this year, was defeated 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. Kanepi turns 37 next month and is the oldest player in the women’s draw in Paris. She is ranked 46th.