Carlos Alcaraz starts Paris Masters with easy win over Nishioka

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Carlos Alcaraz opened his Paris Masters campaign with a straight-set victory over Yoshihito Nishioka. The top seed needed just 72 minutes to down the Japanese star 6-4 6-4 as he bids to keep hold of his world No 1 ranking this week, with Rafael Nadal in with a shot of dethroning the teenager.

Alcaraz is playing a Masters 1000 as the world No 1 for the first time this week, and was awarded his No 1 trophy at the start of the tournament in a special ceremony. He walked onto court with strapping on his knee following reports that he had undergone medical tests after feeling discomfort since his Basel semi-final loss at the weekend.

The top seed faced Nishioka in his opening match at the tournament, a first meeting between the pair, and started strong as he broke in the fifth game. After failing to convert a break point with Nishioka serving at 2-4 down, the Spaniard then played an error-strewn game to gift the world No 38 the break back.

Alcaraz fired back to break in the very next game, regaining his lead and serving out a 6-4 first set in 36 minutes. The Japanese player saved a break point to get himself on the board at the start of the second set and stop the top seed from going on a run of games.

JUST IN: Emma Raducanu BJK Cup replacement announced as injury forces Brit out

The second set was much more closely fought as there were no more break points until 4-4 in the set, when Nishioka was serving. Alcaraz took things to another level as he set up two break point chances and fires a winner across the court to take a 5-4 lead and allow himself to serve for the win. 

The 19-year-old closed out the match with a confident love-hold, advancing to the third round with a 6-4 6-4 victory. He will now face the winner of a match between Grigor Dimitrov and Fabio Fognini and is one round away from securing his place at the top of the rankings for another week.

DON’T MISS
Novak Djokovic ATP Finals rule explained as Kyrgios and co hit out
Daniil Medvedev fumes and smashes racket as he suffers Paris loss
Rune’s mum clarifies Wawrinka talk and insists he is not ‘bad loser’

Alcaraz is battling to keep hold of his world No 1 ranking this week in Paris, as he can forfeit the top spot to countryman Rafael Nadal if he loses before the quarter-final and the 36-year-old wins the title. The teenager reached the third-round last year while ranked down at world No 35, beating then-eighth seed Jannik Sinner en route. 

Even if he holds onto his ranking this week, the 19-year-old is still in a battle for the year-end No 1 ranking with Nadal. Both men have qualified for the season-ending championships in Turin and will not be defending any points at the 1500-point event as Alcaraz will be making his debut while Nadal did not play last year after ending his season with injury.

Source: Read Full Article