New York (AFP) – At the beginning of his title defense at the US Open, Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round on Tuesday due to the withdrawal of German Dominik Koepfer due to injury during the second set.
First modification: 08/30/2023 – 04:31 Last modification: 08/30/2023 – 04:29
3 min
Koepfer, number 75 in the ATP, violently twisted his left ankle in the first game of the match when he was about to return a ball with a backhand.
The German received a heavy bandage on his ankle and, despite his visible physical limitations, he insisted on continuing to play until announcing his retirement when Alcaraz was winning 6-2, 3-2 after an hour of play.
“It’s not the best way to go to another round but I have to say that I was playing well on my part,” Alcaraz acknowledged. “You have to give him credit. Hopefully I can find him on the track again and he recovers soon.”
Alcaraz, who is chasing his third Grand Slam trophy at the age of 20, will face South African Lloyd Harris, number 177 on the ATP, in the next round.
Harris “is a great player, I have to be very focused,” he acknowledged. “I’ve practiced with him a few times and I know him a bit but obviously it’s going to be tough.”
In his reappearance in New York after his impressive victory last year, where he was also crowned the youngest number one in the ATP, Alcaraz was received with a huge ovation on the center court of Flushing Meadows, the largest in the world (23,000 seats). ).
Upon entering the track “I felt the same energy as last year. It was a great start to the game,” he thanked. “I felt very good on the track and hopefully I can continue at this level.”
The German Dominik Koepfer receives treatment during the match against Carlos Alcaraz. © COREY SIPKIN / AFP
Alcaraz, who competes in this tournament with a sleeveless shirt, had seen the night before how Novak Djokovic, his great rival, surpassed his debut and made sure to unseat him from the top of the ATP at the end of the tournament.
Even so, the Spanish prodigy has a lot to fight for in New York, where he can win his second big trophy of the year, after Wimbledon, and be the first to win two consecutive US Open since Roger Federer chained five victories between 2004 and 2008.
No other Grand Slam tournament has lived so many years without a repeat champion since the beginning of the Open Era in 1968.
His first step towards this feat ended hastily due to the injury to Koepfer, a player with no ATP finals on his record and no win in six duels against top-10 Grand Slams.
alcaraz to the microphone
At 40-40 and serving in the first game, the German ran to his right to return a shot from Alcaraz and misstepped his left foot, twisting his ankle.
The German reached his seat grimacing in pain and, after receiving medical attention, returned to the track to face a formidable rival.
Alcaraz confirmed the break in the tiebreaker but Koepfer kept fighting and managed to defend his next two serves to get within 3-2.
At the same time, the German held dialogues with his team, acknowledging that he was not going to be able to play until the end, and the chair umpire, to whom he told that he refused to retire so quickly in front of 23,000 fans.
Alcaraz began to deploy his catalog of shots and subtle dropshots that Koepfer didn’t even try to reach, and accelerated to close the first set in 38 minutes.
To the surprise of the public, the German did not give up then either and returned to the court for the second set, in which he went ahead 0-1.
The Spaniard then picked up the pace to avoid risks and Koepfer threw in the towel when the public had already attended an hour of play.
Interviewed on the dance floor, a smiling Alcaraz thanked the audience for the reception and even dared to hum the song “Vagabundo” by the Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, who was in the stands and with whom he formed a doubles couple days ago at a charity event prior to the tournament.
© 2023 AFP
2023-08-30 02:47:22
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