Synopsis
On February 5, top seed Carlos Alcaraz avenged his previous US Open defeat by defeating Van De Zandschulp at the Rotterdam Open, while Holger Rune also progressed to the next round after defeating Lorenzo Sonego.Key Takeaways
- Carlos Alcaraz avenged his US Open loss to Zandschulp.
- Alcaraz won a challenging match lasting 2 hours and 33 minutes.
- Holger Rune won against Sonego to advance.
- Both players are set to face tough opponents in the next round.
- Alcaraz is still seeking his first indoor championship match.
Rotterdam, Feb 5 (NationPress) The top seed Carlos Alcaraz has successfully avenged his previous defeat to Van De Zandschulp from last year’s US Open with a gritty win at the Rotterdam Open on Wednesday (IST).
The Spanish player faced intense challenges but ultimately triumphed with a score of 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 against the Dutch wildcard Zandschulp, thereby progressing to the second round of the indoor hard-court ATP 500 event.
Having been stunned by Zandschulp in the second round at the US Open last year, Alcaraz found it difficult to establish his rhythm throughout the demanding match. However, the 21-year-old regained his focus to dominate the final set, securing a victory that lasted two hours and 33 minutes, according to ATP reports.
Despite holding 16 tour-level titles, Alcaraz has yet to reach an indoor championship match. His next opponent will be either qualifier Andrea Vavassori or two-time titlist from 2025, Felix Auger-Aliassime in the upcoming round.
Alcaraz also faced some physical challenges, arriving in Rotterdam with a cold and sporting a piece of tape on his nose for easier breathing. “I don’t feel 100 percent yet. I'll need a few more days for that. But the key was to remain mentally strong. Fortunately, that worked out. It was also a fantastic match for the fans in that regard,” shared the Spaniard.
Additionally, Holger Rune advanced to the second round in Rotterdam for the third consecutive year after overcoming recent Australian Open quarter-finalist Lorenzo Sonego with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4 in two hours and 11 minutes.
The fifth seed achieved his 44th indoor victory since the 2022 season, ranking second only to Felix Auger-Aliassime's 53. The 2022 Paris Masters champion will next face Pedro Martinez from Spain, aiming to enhance his break point conversion rate, which stood at 2/13 against Sonego, according to ATP Stats.
