Carlos Alcaraz starts defence of Queen’s title with straight sets win over Francisco Cerundolo – ‘Really good test’ – Eurosport

Carlos Alcaraz has breezed through to the last-16 at Queen’s after beating Francisco Cerundolo.

The World No. 1, who is attempting to defend the title he won last year, picked up a 6-1 7-5 victory.

But he showed no signs of rustiness in easing through the first set, which he took 6-1 in double-quick time, winning 16 of 20 points behind his own serve.

Cerundolo rallied at the start of the second, and duly broke his opponent for an early 2-0 lead.

He maintained that advantage as the set wore on, but his game crumbled as he served for it at 5-3.

Alcaraz broke back and was expected to regain control from there, but there was more drama to come as he faced three set points in the next game.

Each were saved though, with Cerundolo continuing to struggle to find his range on the big points, and after holding for 5-5, the Spaniard inevitably broke for a 6-5 lead.

That gave him the chance to serve for the match, and he wrapped proceedings up by winning the game to love, sealing it with a thumping serve out wide that his opponent failed to return.

“The first match in every tournament is never easy, but even more difficult here on grass,” he said in his on-court interview.

“Starting the grass season, you want to do a good result, so you have to deal with those expectations that you put on yourself.

“But I’m really happy with the match I played. Of course, a really good test, playing against Franscico.

“[It was] close in the second set. It was good to have those situations, to have to deal with the nerves, serving or returning to stay alive in the second set.

“I’m really happy with everything I’ve done and hopefully kick on.”

He will now face either Mariano Navone or British No 1 Jack Draper in the second round, with the pair due to play later today.

Five-time Queen’s Club champion Andy Murray is also in action, as he plays qualifier Alexei Popyrin.