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Alcaraz battles into second round of Qatar Open / Photo: © AFP
Alcaraz battles into second round of Qatar Open
Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to action following his Australian Open triumph as he beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the first round in Doha on Tuesday.
Alcaraz, who became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam with his victory in Melbourne, saw off the 30th-ranked Rinderknech in two closely contested sets.
The world number one will face another Frenchman in round two, 60th-ranked Valentin Royer.
Alcaraz took the first set after breaking in the fifth game but faced dogged resistance from Rinderknech, who brought up his first break points of the match with the top seed serving to force a tie-break in the second set.
The Spaniard saved both and then closed out victory in the tie-break, ripping a forehand down the line on match point.
Alcaraz's chief rival Jannik Sinner is on the other side of the draw. No player other than Alcaraz or Sinner has won a tour-level title at an event featuring both of them since Andrey Rublev lifted the trophy in Madrid in May 2024.
K. Berger--BTZ
