Alcaraz makes enough of a wet debut in Rome and returns to number one

Carlos Alcaraz He started his career at the 1,000 Masters in Rome with a solid victory in his debut against Alberto Ramos (6-4 and 6-1) in 1 hour and 25 minutes of the match. Double reward for Murciano at Foro Italico: Passing to the third round of the prestigious Italian tournament and return to number one in the ATP rankingstaking care of Roland Garros through Novak Djokovic.

The meeting started three and a half hours later than the agreed time due to rainwhich is expected to continue to be the protagonist during the coming days. Albert Ramos he began to adapt better to the changing conditions, with a more difficult and irregular course than usual, and struck first break in Alcaraz’s first service game, which started irregularly. Murcian did not find sensations with his shots, but he knew how to hold on and returned the break with 2-1 in favor of the Catalan. With the course wet and difficult, Alcaraz abused drop shots as the most practical way to close points against the well-placed Ramos on the course. Equality was the dominant note of the first round until 5-4, when Carlitos was more precise. He reduced his unforced error percentage, managed his game better from the bottom of the court and took advantage of an Alberto Ramos forehand error to break Barcelona’s serve again and take the first set 6-4.

Alcaraz maintained a positive dynamic at the end of the first set and gave Ramos another break at the beginning of the second set. The Catalan was giving in more and more and stopped being as pleasant towards the others as he was at the beginning of the duel. Alcaraz, for his part, never lost his concentration. He broke free with his right hand and punished the backhand of Alberto Ramos, who could do little in the face of the tennis storm the Murcian displayed in the second set. New break with 4-1 for the number one in the world, who he played the last part to his heart’s content customers. Alcaraz closed out his last serve on white to close out the second set with an incredible 6-1.

Murcian is already in the third round, where he will face a rival between Czech Jiri Lehecka and Hungarian Fabián Marozsán. A priori an accessible third round for the Spaniard, whose primary goal in Rome is to do as good a job as possible in his first appearance on Italian soil as the new number one in the world.

Bernabé Zapata and Roberto Carballés continue their streak

Bernabe Zapata He continues to show that he is in the best moment of his career. The Valencian defeated Australian Jason Kubler (6-4 and 6-1) in the second round of the Masters 1,000 in Rome. Zapata, who was the number one seed in Italy at the age of 26, confirms his great form after a positive result in Madrid, where he lost in the round of 16 to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Another Spaniard who is signing a significant tour on clay courts is Roberto Carballes. The man from Tenerife got rid of the always dangerous Daniel Evans in three sets (7-6, 5-7 and 6-4). Carballés, who became the champion in Marrakech, had to face a real marathon of three hours and 45 minutes to eliminate the Briton in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Rome.