A Hard-Fought Victory
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz faced a tough challenge in his opening match at the Rotterdam Open, overcoming local favorite Botic van de Zandschulp in a grueling three-set battle. The top seed secured a 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-1 victory after nearly three hours on the court, marking his return following his Australian Open quarter-final exit.
Alcaraz admitted to early nerves, which led to uncharacteristic errors. Van de Zandschulp, ranked 81 places lower, capitalized on the slow indoor conditions, forcing Alcaraz into a competitive fight.
“It was a really difficult match. I had to get through some tough moments. I started a little bit nervous, making some mistakes and letting him play his style,” Alcaraz said after the match.
Decisive Third Set
The first set saw both players trade breaks before heading into a tie-break, where Alcaraz raised his level to claim it 7-3. However, van de Zandschulp fought back in the second set, breaking Alcaraz and leveling the match to the delight of the home crowd.
In the decisive third set, early errors from van de Zandschulp handed Alcaraz a crucial break, allowing him to dominate. The Spaniard surged to a 3-0 lead and sealed the victory with a well-executed forehand drop shot.
“It was a bit up and down on my side. I need to analyze my weaknesses and improve for the next match,” Alcaraz reflected.
The Road Ahead
Alcaraz is aiming to become the first Spaniard to win the Rotterdam Open, but his path won’t be easy. Defending champion Daniil Medvedev, who overcame Stan Wawrinka, remains a strong contender.
Other notable results include Alex de Minaur defeating David Goffin and Andrey Rublev cruising past Zhang Zhizhen in straight sets.
With a tough field ahead, Alcaraz will need to step up his game if he hopes to lift the Rotterdam Open trophy.