Alcaraz debuts in China Open, eases past Hanfmann in straight sets

After his heavy defeat in the semifinals of the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz made his first reappearance today in his debut at the China Open. The Spaniard, world number 2, faced Yannick Hanfmann, who had just completed a great qualifying round, and defeated him in two sets by 6-4, 6-3.

In the opening set, Alcaraz was quick to take the first lead of the match. The two-time Grand Slam winner started with a break, and at 1-1 on Hanfmann's second serve he managed to break his opponent's serve on the first break point he had. However, the German would respond with another break to tie again, 2-2.

Alcaraz did not want Hanfmann to get impetus after countering his break, and the Spaniard was going to press to get a break again although the German saved the first three opportunities of his rival in the service. At 3-2, the Spaniard managed to confirm the break and take a 4-2 lead, conceding only one point on his serve.

However, things were going to falter again for 'Carlitos'. At 4-3, Yannick Hanfmann surprised the world no. 2 again and got a break that left the set 4-4. Even so, Alcaraz was not going to let the first set go to the tie break, and with a break at the most crucial moment he got 5-4 and serving to win the set, something he was going to achieve with a game in which he only lost one point. 6-4.

In the second set, Carlos Alcaraz would again get his first break at 1-1, although this time he would have no difficulty in confirming the break. The Spaniard stood firm with his serve, aware that he had the victory in his debut in the China Open very well on track. At 3-2 he got a game in white to take a 4-2 lead.

In the next game he would get a break point, but Yannick Hanfmann would save it to cut it to 4-3 and still hope to turn the set around. However, Carlos Alcaraz was very solid with his serves, and adding another game, he would take a 5-3 lead to close the match with a last break.