Carlos Alcaraz returns with dominant win, targets Rome crown
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return from a leg injury today at the Italian Open in Rome, defeating Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 in his debut at the event. The confident straight-sets victory signals a positive physical recovery for the Race leader as he targets his first title in the Italian capital.
Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3 and leader in the Race to the ATP Finals, made his successful return to the tennis court *today* in Rome, 19 days after his last competitive match (the Barcelona Open final). The 22-year-old Spaniard began his campaign at the Italian Open, an ATP 1000 tournament he missed last year due to a right forearm injury, with a debut victory.
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Alcaraz defeated Serbian veteran Dusan Lajovic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in a match that lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes. This win was particularly significant as it marked his return from a "small tear in the adductor of his right leg," an injury sustained during his last appearance. Alcaraz confirmed his physical readiness post-match, stating, “I made a couple of runs and I didn’t feel any pain, I passed the test.” Notably, he played wearing a nasal strip, a measure supported by his physio to improve breathing during physical exertion.
His performance today added to an already impressive season, where he leads the tour with 25 victories (10 on clay). Alcaraz boasts a remarkable 82.7% winning percentage on clay courts throughout his career (91 wins from 110 matches), a figure surpassed only by Rafael Nadal since the ATP circuit began in 1990 (among players with at least 25 clay matches).
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In today's match against Lajovic, Alcaraz appeared in control despite a brief wobble. He won the coin toss and chose to receive, quickly establishing a dominant 4-0 lead in the first set. Although Lajovic managed to avoid a bagel and broke Alcaraz once, the Spaniard closed out the set on the return. Alcaraz's power was evident, with forehands averaging 124 km/h and backhands 115 km/h.
The victory sets Alcaraz on a path towards potentially achieving several milestones in Rome. He is now just two wins away from reaching the quarterfinals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on the calendar. Winning three more matches would also guarantee him the second seed position for the upcoming Roland Garros.
His next opponent in the third round on Sunday will be either Serbian Laslo Djere or American Alex Michelsen. Today's debut win in Rome is a strong start as Alcaraz sets his sights on claiming his first "Rome crown."
