Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slow start, destroys Cerundolo
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Carlos Alcaraz delivered his first Monte Carlo victory. World no. 3 faced a tricky opponent in the second round and dominated sets two and three for his first triumph in the Principality. Alcaraz played against Francisco Cerundolo and won 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
The Spaniard made a slow start before leaving his rival miles behind. The Argentine claimed only one game after the first set and hit the exit door after an hour and 38 minutes. The 2nd seed claimed 21 points more than his rival.
Carlos with a gorgeous backhand down the line winner against Cerundolo in Monte Carlo.
On the money. 💴
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 9, 2025
Carlos served at only 54% and faced seven break points. He got broken two times in a row in the opener before rising his level. The Spaniard stepped in on the return after the opener and clinched 53% of the return points. He converted them into six breaks from eight opportunities.
They sprayed 31 unforced errors each. Alcaraz hit eight winners more than his rival and forged a massive advantage from the baseline and at the net. The Spaniard broke in the third game of the encounter after forcing the rival’s mistake.
World no. 3 missed a backhand in the fourth game and brought his rival back to 2-2. Cerundolo stepped in on the return in game six and provided his second straight break for a 4-2 advantage. The Argentine held in the next one after the Spaniard’s loose backhand.
Francisco served for the opener in game nine and held at love with a service winner for 6-3 in 35 minutes. Carlos did not serve well at the beginning of the second set. He saved a pair of break points in games one and three and made a push on the return at 1-0.
Cerundolo missed a forehand and experienced a break at 15. Alcaraz saved two break points in the next one and cemented the…
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Source : tennisworldusa
