Roland Garros 2024 Men’s Day 1

Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the clay for the first time in nearly a month on Sunday, crushing qualifying lucky loser JJ Wolf 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 to make a fast start at the French Open.

American Wolf was a deer in the headlights of the Alcaraz attack as the Spanish third seed put a forearm injury to the test.

Alcaraz last competed on May 1 in Madrid, losing a quarter-final at home to eventual champion Andrey Rublev and then pulling out of Rome for treatment on his injury.

The 20-year-old Spaniard who had just four clay matches in Madrid by way of preparation, needed two match points to advance as he sent Wolf out.

“Four matches is not really enough and I would have loved to have played more,” he said.

“But I also don’t need many matches to hit my 100 per cent.

“I had a good preparation before coming to Paris and I hit this week with top players here.

“My forearm is getting better and better.”

Alcaraz has never lost a first round match in any of the 13 Grand Slams he has played.

“It was a difficult month (away) for me,” he said. “I love to play and staying out injured was tough.

“I’m happy to be back and competing again. I tried all I could and I think I was able to show my best tennis today.”

Sixth seed Andrey Rublev, champion this month in Madrid, earned a second-round spot as he beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5.

“I feel a bit relieved to win in four sets,” Rublev said. 

“I felt like in every returning game I had chances, but sometimes I wasn’t making them because I was a bit too relaxed.

“In the end I couldn’t find this right balance, but I’m happy I was able to play good rallies and finally break him.” 

Tournament No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov swept past American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. 

China’s “Treble Zed” Zhang Zhizhen put out Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. 

Lorenzo Sonego repeated a 2023 win over French national No. 1 Ugo Humbert as he knocked the home player out for a second straight year in Paris.

The Italian advanced 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two and three-quarter hours.

Sonego struck eight aces among 39 winners as he dispatched the French No. 1. “It was tough, but I’m really proud of myself,” the winner said. “I try to put every energy on court. 

“I was really focused on my tennis, nothing about the crowd or thepeople outside. I was really happy for my game.”