Top seed Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday began his Wimbledon campaign with a 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 thrashing of French veteran Jeremy Chardy.
Around the same time that eight-time winner Roger Federer was receiving a standing ovation as a Royal Box guest on Centre Court, Alcaraz demonstrated why he is regarded as the future of men’s tennis on Court 1.
Under the roof, Alcaraz, 20, pummelling the unfortunate Chardy with vicious serves and rasping forehands.
Alcaraz, who returned to the top of the ATP rankings after winning the Queen’s Club title on grass last week, raced through the first set in 20 minutes.
The 36-year-old Chardy’s 56th and final Grand Slam tournament was turning into a horror show when he won the first two games of the second set.
Chardy, a former world number 25 who had defeated Federer, finally broke through with a service hold that drew enthusiastic applause.
The rifle-shot sound of Alcaraz’s ball-striking was briefly muffled by rain beating on the translucent roof, so he transformed the match into a contest in the third set.
Alcaraz trailed 4-2 after a shaky service game, but he was not in the mood for retiring presents and redoubled his efforts to defeat his opponent in just under two hours, claiming victory with an ace.
Reuters/NAN
