Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed at this year’s French Open, launched his campaign for a maiden title with a commanding performance, defeating American J.J. Wolf 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in a convincing fashion on Sunday. Despite previous concerns surrounding his troublesome right forearm, Alcaraz showed no signs of discomfort throughout the match.
Last year’s semi-finalist arrived at Roland Garros with limited clay-court preparation, having missed several tournaments due to his forearm issue. However, Alcaraz displayed a dominant and confident performance, indicating a resurgence in form.
“I had low expectations coming into the tournament, but after the practice week and this first round, my confidence is higher. Hopefully, I can keep going,” Alcaraz remarked, expressing optimism about his performance.
While the Spaniard had previously expressed concerns and wore a compression sleeve, he showcased his resilience by swiftly recovering from an early setback, dropping serve in the first game. Despite moments of caution, Alcaraz’s utter dominance was evident as he broke Wolf’s serve three times in the opening set.
Despite the grey skies and intermittent rain, Alcaraz maintained his momentum, doubling his advantage and securing a commanding lead in the third set. His controlled aggression and tactical play allowed him to dictate the pace of the match, ultimately sealing victory when Wolf sent a shot long.
As Alcaraz progresses in the tournament, his impressive display in the opening round instills confidence in his quest for French Open glory, despite lingering concerns about his forearm.
