Carlos Alcaraz dispatched Martin Cilic in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Monday, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory despite the challenges posed by a windy night.
Facing the 36-year-old Croatian veteran, Alcaraz found his rhythm after a shaky start, proving stronger in pivotal moments. The first set was decided during an 18-minute seventh game, where Alcaraz managed to convert a crucial service break.
In the second set, the 21-year-old Spaniard faced adversity when he fell behind 40-0 on serve in the eighth game. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Alcaraz dominated the remainder of the match, winning 15 of the next 19 points to secure the victory in one hour and thirty-eight minutes.
\"I'm really pleased about saving that game,\" Alcaraz said in his post-match on-court interview. \"Marin puts a lot of pressure when you're serving, he's a great returner. I'm really happy to stay calm in that moment, do my routine and make good shots. I'm really happy to win in two sets.\"
In the second round, Alcaraz will face either China's Zhang Zhizhen or Italy's Luca Nardi.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz beats Cilic in windswept opening round match at ATP Qatar Open
cgtn.com
