Spanish
number four in the ATP ranking, appeared this Tuesday in
By beating Argentine Sebastian Baez, 37th in the world, who retired due to injury when he lost 7-5, 7-5, 2-0 in a great high-level match.
Alcaraz, winner of four tournaments this year, including the 1000 Masters in Miami and Madrid, lit up a stunning Arthur Ashe Tennis court in the second match of his career with Bayes, after defeating him last year at the New Generation Masters from Milan.
The 21-year-old Argentine was playing high-level tennis and had a break in the second set, but a muscle problem at the start of the third prevented him from continuing to take advantage of his chances.
He tried to seek medical help, but immediately realized that it was not a muscle spasm, but a more serious injury.
It was a poor conclusion to a high-profile match, with artistic plays and displays of great sporting preparations by both players.
Alcaraz, who could become world number one in this tournament, punished Baez in the first set by breaking his serve for the only and decisive time in the twelfth game to advance 7-5.
Giving up the first set like that didn’t dampen Bayes’ confidence and the second set made him a 2-0 lead, failing to defend on serve.
There was no shortage of break balls, even 19 in the second set, and Alcaraz managed to clear eight out of the ten conceded. In particular, he canceled out one with a gorgeous intern between his legs which made the audience applaud.
France Press agency
“I’ve always done well when I’ve played in the big stadiums, and I want to play in Arthur Ashe, last year was unbelievable. I’m sure when I play there, I’ll enjoy it,” said a press conference before this match. He showed it on Tuesday.
Despite missing several shots, too, but not only, due to the sun, Alcaraz was able to reclaim a break from denial and hit a new break in the 12th game that decisively unbalanced the match.
He finished the second set with a great forehand down the line and accompanied that point with a soothing cry.
Already in the third set, with Alcaraz resting, Baez suffered a muscle injury that separated him from the US Open.
In the second round, the Mursian will face the winner of the match between Dutchman Talon Grekspur and Argentine Federico Correa.
Alcaraz shares a side of the draw in New York with compatriot Rafa Nadal, who could face each other in the semi-finals.
Nadal, a four-time champion at Flushing Meadows, made his debut on Tuesday against Australian Rinke Hijikata, ranked 198th in the world.
In the other matches held on Tuesday, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza beat Denmark’s Clara Towson 6-3, 7-6 (5).
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