Carlos Alcaraz needed an hour and forty -two minutes to find rhythm. The world number 2 exceeded its debut in the grass season with a victory in two sets (6-4, 7-6 (4)) About Adam Waltonin a duel that went from less to more both at stake and in sensations. He adjusted displacements, calibrated heights and finished imposing his serve along with his right at the key moments. The return to Queen’s, after the historic conquest of Roland Garros, left the first step fulfilled in the search for his second title in the London tournament.
The Low of Alejandro Davidovichannounced just a few hours before the meeting, completely altered the script of the debut. The Malaga, who had been scheduled as Alcaraz’s original rival, He retired from the tournament after not being in optimal conditions to competejust days after celebrating your wedding. Instead appeared Adam Walton, an Australian of 25 years and number 86 in the world, who entered the painting as ‘Lucky Loser’. Without pressure, without expectations and with everything to win, Walton found margin to bother Murcia for several sections of the party, especially at the start of each set, supported by a first service that gave him consistency and allowed him to stretch the games.
The game began with contained rhythm, with Alcaraz still in the process of adapting to the surface. It was difficult for him to react to open balls, especially in displacements to the corners, and Walton took advantage of it to stay afloat. Even so, the Spanish was sustained firmly from the serve, signing two blank games in that initial section. The first big pulse took 4-4after several tense exchanges and three Break opportunities, Alcaraz managed to break the Australian service and mark the first turning point of the party.
The second partial maintained balance from the first point. Walton was firm again with his serve, he touched 80 % of first services in the first games and Alcaraz, already loose, He began to dominate with the right when he opened space. Both released, exchanged blows with more intention and played with some freedom, even seen with certain smiles at some times. Even so, the Australian managed to sustain the pressure and took the set to the Trebreak. There, the Murcia accelerated just in time, won the first long exchange and did not release the advantage. He closed the game with a 7-4 that avoided a third set.
Alcaraz closed the game with 34 winning blows, 16 with the right and 11 direct to the serve, in addition to winning 12 of the 15 points he played on the network. Walton, on the other hand, added 23 ‘Winners’ and offered resistance with 13 points won on the network and 69 % effectiveness with its first service. The Murcian led to his 10 ‘aces’ and a total of 30 unanswered serves to make differences in key moments. With this triumph, Carlos advances to the round of 16 in Queen’s and now he expects rival.