Carlos Alcaraz brushes aside Nuno Borges in Barcelona
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Carlos Alcaraz in action against Nuno Borges at the Barcelona Open on April 18.
EPA-EFE
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BARCELONA – World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz began his belated build-up to the French Open with an emphatic second-round win over Nuno Borges at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old was back in action after hand and back problems forced him to pull out of last week’s 2023 debut on European clay at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The top seed swept aside the world No. 79 from Portugal 6-3, 6-1 to set up an all-Spanish last-16 clash with Roberto Bautista Agut after the 13th seed beat Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2.
“I feel great, playing here in Barcelona, (my) first match on clay since Rio,” said Alcaraz, playing on the surface for the first time since Rio de Janeiro in February.
“I am moving well, hitting the ball really well, so I feel a lot of confidence playing here in Barcelona. It’s a really special place for me.”
The Spaniard pulled out of Monte Carlo with the injuries he succumbed to Jannik Sinner of Italy.
He arrived in Florida as the world No. 1 after success at Indian Wells, but was knocked off the top of the ATP rankings by Serbian veteran Novak Djokovic after the loss to Sinner.
Alcaraz’s bid to successfully defend a tour-level title for the first time got off to the best possible start, as he dispatched Borges in 63 minutes on the court named after Rafael Nadal, another absentee from Monte Carlo.
Aside from unforced errors that enabled Borges to reclaim a break in the eighth game, Alcaraz showed little sign of rustiness.
He allowed the Portuguese only one more game in a lop-sided affair.
The 2022 US Open champion converted five of seven break points to continue his quest for a third title of the season after Indian Wells and Buenos Aires.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek has recovered from a rib injury and is ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title this week.
PHOTO: AFP
As Alcaraz gradually gets back to full fitness, Iga Swiatek also said she has recovered from a rib injury and is ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title this week, though the world No. 1 concedes she may be a bit rusty following a month-long absence.
The Pole, who is gearing up for the start of her French Open title defence, withdrew ahead of the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers due to the injury she suffered during her run to the Indian Wells semi-finals.
“I’m not injured any more, so that’s the most important thing for me,” the 21-year-old said on Tuesday. “I have still been working out physically a little bit and obviously coming back to practising step by step. Here I am and I think I’m ready.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion will begin her campaign at the WTA 500 clay-court event against China’s Zheng Qinwen in the last 16, after receiving a bye in the first round. AFP, REUTERS
