Matteo Arnaldi lasts one set against Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz-Arnaldi 67(5) 60 61

After his triumph over Luca Van Assche, Matteo Arnaldi played an excellent first set against Carlos Alcaraz, holding his own against the world number two for over an hour. Despite the break he suffered at 3-4, Arnaldi showed his best tennis, forcing Alcaraz to the tie-break and winning it, thus raising hopes of a great victory for Italian tennis.

However, Alcaraz was able to adapt to the evening playing conditions and dominated the next two sets, committing only two errors in the second set and winning ten consecutive games until the early conclusion of the match. The young Spaniard attributed his victory to a change in game strategy, increasing the number of first serves and improving the level of exchanges.

Alcaraz, who has lost only twice in the first round in his last 20 tournaments, will face in the third round Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, world number 31, who defeated Frenchman Constant Lestienne, number 100.