Carlos Alcaraz expressed optimism about his injured forearm, saying it is getting “better and better” following a commanding first-round victory at the French Open. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters in April due to a muscle strain, arrived in Paris with limited match practice. Nonetheless, he delivered a dominant performance, losing only four games in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 win against American lucky loser J.J. Wolf.
Despite wearing a compression sleeve on his arm during the match, Alcaraz showcased his top form. “I think I showed my best tennis today,” he said afterward. “I tried everything I could do to be here at 100%.” The Wimbledon champion needed just one hour and 51 minutes to secure the win, with his groundstrokes nearly at their best. He hit 27 winners against 16 unforced errors and recorded five aces, aiming to improve on his semi-final finish from last year.
Reflecting on his preparation, Alcaraz noted, “I would have loved to have played more matches but I don’t need too many to get to 100%. I did really good preparation this past two weeks and practices with top players. My forearm is getting better and better.”
Alcaraz’s next opponent will be either Britain’s Jack Draper or qualifier Jesper de Jong in the second round. As he continues his quest at Roland Garros, his performance in the first round suggests he is well on his way to full recovery and peak performance.
