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Alcaraz, Medvedev ease into 2nd round, Tsitsipas exits at China Open

Published : 29 Sep 2023, 23:48

DF News Desk

Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits a return to Tommy Paul of the United States during the men's singles first round match at 2023 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on Sept. 29, 2023. Photo: Xinhua by Luo Yuan.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz cruised to the second round of the China Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann here on Friday, reported Xinhua.

The world No. 2 Spaniard made a strong start with an early break, and won the opening set with a blistering ace. Hanfmann managed to save eight of 11 break points in the set.

Alcaraz broke Hanfmann in game three of the second set and claimed the match when Hanfmann sent a forehand return into the net.

The Wimbledon champion will take on Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in the second round.

Earlier, second-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia overcame a stuttering start to ease past Tommy Paul of the United States 6-2, 6-1.

The world No. 3 survived a break at the beginning of the match and broke Paul's serve three times to win the first set.

"(It) was a little bit tough start, starting with a break," the 27-year-old Russian said.

"I managed to break back straightaway so the match became even again," he said.

Medvedev then broke twice in the second set to make a short work of the 80-minute match, in which he fired nine aces and committed only six unforced errors.

He said his preparation for the tournament was not ideal as he only resumed practicing on Tuesday after his tiring US Open run, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final.

"That's why I'm happy about my match where I didn't have the best preparation possible because of my US Open run," he said.

Medvedev will next face Alex de Minaur of Australia, who beat British veteran Andy Murray on Thursday.

World No. 4 Holger Rune held off Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 to face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the second round.

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked 5th in the ATP tour, succumbed to 23rd-ranked Nicolas Jarry of Chile 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.

The eighth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany fought from a set down to beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-4. He will play against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round.