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Carlos Alcaraz endured a rocky begin to his Hamburg European Open debut on Tuesday afternoon, however the #NextGenATP Spaniard dug deep to finish a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3) first-round win in opposition to German wild card Nicola Kuhn.
Alcaraz rallied impressively after he dropped the opening set to the World No. 259 Kuhn, whose aggressive techniques paid off within the early phases in northern Germany. The Spaniard mixed consistency with some trademark moments of brilliance to stage the match earlier than holding his nerve within the deciding-set tie-break to enhance his report on clay in 2022 to 21-2.
Previous to the event, Alcaraz had spoken of how he was utilizing the additional stress of enjoying as a high seed at an ATP Tour occasion for the primary time as a supply of motivation. These phrases have been put to the check instantly in Hamburg, the place Alcaraz needed to showcase grit and willpower within the closing phases to carry off the 22-year-old Kuhn.
“It was robust. I imply, the primary spherical in each event is hard,” mentioned Alcaraz, who was enjoying his first match since his run to the fourth spherical at Wimbledon. “I got here from the grass, and the distinction was an excessive amount of. I’m actually completely happy to be [through to] the second spherical. I’m certain that I will probably be higher within the subsequent spherical, however I’m actually proud of the win.”
After triumphing in Rio de Janeiro in February and Barcelona in April, Alcaraz is chasing a clear sweep of this season’s clay-court ATP 500 occasions in Hamburg, whereas the 19-year-old has additionally lifted ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid in a stellar 2022 season. Regardless of his gradual begin in opposition to Kuhn, the Spaniard was happy with how he had reacted strongly to clinch his thirty sixth tour-level win of the yr.
“I knew that I wasn’t enjoying nicely, so I knew I used to be going to have my possibilities to get higher within the second set,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Strive to not miss as a lot as I did within the first set. I’m actually proud of the change that I put in within the second set.”
Regardless of the slim margin of his victory, Alcaraz was efficient on return all through his two-hour, 26-minute win. The Spaniard carved out 10 break level alternatives, changing two of them, whereas he additionally got here ahead often and demonstrated fast palms on the internet to maintain Kuhn underneath stress.
Alcaraz’s subsequent task in Hamburg, the place he’s looking for to turn out to be the primary participant to win 5 Tour titles in 2022, is a second-round assembly with Sebastian Baez or Filip Krajinovic.
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