Carlos Alcaraz: Top seed earns comeback win over Arthur Rinderknech on Queen's debut, Holger Rune progresses
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Updated 20/06/2023 at 17:23 GMT
Queen's top seed Carlos Alcaraz had to fight back from a set down to beat lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech on his tournament debut. The Spaniard faced a determined battle from the Frenchman, ultimately triumphing in a deciding tie-break after more than two-and-a-half hours on court. Earlier, Holger Rune secured his first career grass win as he beat Maxime Cressy in straight sets.
Alcaraz survives scare to beat Rinderknech in three sets at Queen's
Carlos Alcaraz came through a gruelling first-round test at Queen’s against lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech, coming from a set down to win in three.
The world No. 2 triumphed 4-6 7-5 7-6(3) in two hours and 34 minutes to edge past a player ranked 81 places below him.
Alcaraz was originally due to face qualifier Arthur Fils, but he pulled out hours before the match and was replaced by lucky loser Rinderknech, who was beaten in qualifying by Grigor Dimitrov.
The 27-year-old provided a fierce challenge for the Spaniard on his Queen’s debut, but the French Open semi-finalist came back from a break down in the decider to prevail in his first match of the grass-court swing.
Next up for Alcaraz is a last 16 clash with Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets.
Alcaraz started in positive fashion with two love holds. But after passing up three break points in the seventh game of the set he was surprisingly broken to love in the next game after four unforced errors.
Alcaraz hit back next game but was then broken again as Rinderknech won the set.
The second set went on serve until Alcaraz got 0-40 ahead at 5-5.
Rinderknech saved one break point but was then passed down the line at the net as Alcaraz took his chance.
The world No. 2 was pushed to deuce the next game but came up with a clever drop shot and then beat Rinderknech at the net to level the contest.
Alcaraz immediately earned two break points in the opening game of the decider, but Rinderknech won four consecutive points to hold.
The Frenchman then responded in kind, going up 40-15 on the Spaniard’s serve, but he took his second break point chance with a backhand that proved too hot to handle for Alcaraz.
The top seed immediately broke back, before consolidating with a hold to stop the set from slipping away and level things up.
The break-fest calmed down after an eventful start, as proceedings stayed on serve to take it to a deciding tie-break.
Alcaraz slipped while hitting a winner to take an immediate mini-break and led from that point onwards, losing just three points in a dominant tie-break performance.
Earlier, Holger Rune secured his first career grass win as he beat Maxime Cressy 7-6(4) 7-6(3).
The second seed came from 5-2 down to win the first set and also saved break points at 4-4 and 5-5 in the second set.
He played an excellent tie-break to wrap up victory.
Rune will next face Ryan Peniston, who beat the world No. 6 in Eastbourne last year.
Liam Broady was beaten 1-6 6-4 6-3 by Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
In Halle, Jannik Sinner battled past RIchard Gasquet in the first round.
Fourth seed Sinner progressed with a 6-3 5-7 6-2 victory and will next face Lorenzo Sonego.
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