Compelled to overlook final yr’s Australian Open due to harm, Wimbledon champion Alcaraz dominated French veteran Gasquet on his return to Melbourne Park in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 6-2 win.
The 20-year-old Spaniard, who at his previous 4 Grand Slams has gained two titles and reached two semi-finals, is aiming to considerably enhance his file in Melbourne – the place he has not gone past the third spherical in two earlier appearances.
Alcaraz remained affected person when confronted with stern resistance from the 37-year-old Gasquet – taking part in the twenty third season of his profession – who saved 9 break factors to pressure a tie-break in an entertaining opening set.
However, after edging the tie-break from 5-4 down, Alcaraz’s high quality shone via – though Gasquet compelled him to attend till his fifth match level to lastly clinch a victory which arrange a second-round assembly with Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who beat Briton Dan Evans.
Elsewhere, Danish eighth seed Rune beat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in what he referred to as a “bodily battle”.
German sixth seed Zverev, in the meantime, needed to come from behind to beat compatriot Dominik Koepfer 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
The win got here the day after German court docket officers set a date for his trial over home abuse allegations, which he denies.
Bulgarian thirteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov – recent from successful his first ATP title since 2017 in Brisbane – additionally superior, coming again to beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-2.
In the meantime, 26-year-old Nagal will get the prospect to additional enhance his financial institution stability – reaching the third spherical brings prize cash of £133,000 – when he takes on Chinese language world quantity 140 Shang Juncheng, who’s ranked three locations under him.
He stated he was not occupied with expectations again residence, saying: “I wish to undergo this second, take my time, get pleasure from being with my coach, have dialog, perhaps eat a burger or one thing, and name it an evening.”