MONTECARLO.- In their first clay court tournament of the year, the two best tennis players on the circuit, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinnerthey took a walk in their debuts in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000defeating the Argentine without difficulties Sebastian Baez and to french Ugo Humbertrespectively.
The number 1 and 2 of the ATP come to this event after opposite dynamics in recent weeks: the Italian achieved the impressive “Double of the Sun” in March, with titles in Indian Wells and Miamiwhile the Spaniard left doubts on that North American tour.
Although the Australian champion, the first Grand Slam of the year, reached the semifinals in Indian Wells, in Miami he did not make it past the third round, in addition to seeing his great rival crowned in both tournaments.
But the return to earth could not have been better for the Spaniard, who beat Báez 6-1 and 6-3 in just one hour and ten minutes of play.
“I surprised myself”
“To be honest, I surprised myself with the level. I thought it would be a little worse, but I’m happy with everything I did today. Maybe a couple of details didn’t go well in the second set. I let him enter the match, but, in general, I’m happy to play matches on clay again,” admitted the Spaniard.
Undeniable with his service (85% of the points achieved with his first serve and without giving up break balls), Alcaraz scored the first set in just 27 minutes.
The second set was a little more even and Báez even made a break to go 4-3 down, but he gave up his next serve and Alcaraz closed the match on the first chance he had.
Alcaraz will face the winner of the duel between another Argentine in the third round, Tomás Martín Etcheverry (N.30) and French Terence Atmane (N.45).
Etcheverry beat the Bulgarian in the first round Grigor Dimitrov in three competitive sets, 6-4 2-6 and 6-3.
If Alcaraz was expeditious in his debut on clay, his favorite surface, Sinner also defeated Humbert (N.34) quickly, 6-3 and 6-0 in one hour and five minutes.
Against Humbert, Sinner took a little while to adapt to the ground, but as soon as he broke his opponent’s serve in the fifth game everything was much easier, winning 9 of the 10 subsequent games, with a victory in the second set (6-0) in just 23 minutes.
“I played well. You have to adapt the style of play a little, the way you deal with some situations. The first tournament (on clay) is never easy. I came here with good feelings, but without too many expectations,” he declared after the match, which the athletics legend attended in the stands. Usain Bolt.
Fight for ATP No. 1
Sinner will face in the third round the winner of the duel that the Argentine will play on Wednesday Francisco Cerúndolo (N.19) and Czech Tomas Machac (N.53).
In the Principality there is something more at stake than the first clay title of the season: Alcaraz and Sinner are also playing for number 1.
The Spaniard, who last year closed the tour on land with 22 wins and 1 loss and titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros, will lose first place in the ranking if Sinner wins in Monte Carlo.
Although the Murcian tried to put it into perspective: “I’m going to lose it. I don’t know if it will be in this tournament or another. I defend an enormous amount of points that will be difficult to protect. And even if I defend them, Jannik is going to add some points. I’m going to give my best and we’ll see what happens, but N.1 is not in my head right now.”
