Alcaraz, Medvedev Cruise In Beijing Openers, Tsitsipas Stumbles Out

Carlos Alcaraz made a successful pro debut in China cruising past German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round.

The top seed lost just six point on his first serve and broke five times while getting broken twice in this first-time meeting.

“I’m really happy to be able to win this match in straight sets,” Alcaraz said to the ATP. “Yannick’s playing great. He’s a really dangerous player, big shots. He was playing big bombs in this match so I had to be really focused, trying to not let him dominate the match.

“I tried to be really focused on every part of my game. I have to improve a little bit so I’m really happy to do it and have another chance to be better in the next round.”

It was Alcaraz’s first match since losing in the US Open semifinals to Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev was also on court and the Russian didn’t play long hammering American star Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-1 in 80 minutes.

“It’s not easy for both of us. Both of us a little jet lagged. Him maybe more, coming from Vancouver,” Medvedev told the ATP. “Maybe that made the difference, but if I think only about myself, I’m happy with my level.

“I played great. The start of the match was not easy, but it’s never easy first round, especially in another part of the world. Then I was playing better and better during the match, so I’m happy about my level.”

No. 3 seed Holger Rune snapped a 5-match losing streak ousting Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4. Rune his seven aces and never faced a break point.

Nicolas Jarry scored the upset of the day knocking out No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in straights 6-4, 6-4.

Jarry smacked nine aces, lost only 6 points on first serve and saved both break points her faced.

Jarry is now up on leads Tsitsipas 3-2 in their tour-level meetings. The Greek drops to 3-5 in his last eight matches.

No. 6 Jannik Sinner won a tight one over Great Britain’s Daniel Evans 6-4, 6-7(2-7), 6-3. Grigor Dimitrov got the better of (28y,43r) Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-1. No. 7 Casper Ruud sent off Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(7-5), 6-3. Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev advanced past Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Lorenzo Musetti topped (27y,11r) Karen Khachanov 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 and No. 8 Alexander Zverev topped (31y,97r) Diego Schwartzman in three sets 6-7(2-7), 6-1, 6-4.

In second round play Saturday, Medvedev meets Alex De Minaur, Rublev faces Ugo Humber and Zverev collides with Davidovich Fokina.

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