Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev both began their China Open title campaigns in style, securing straight-set victories on Friday, while 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai caused a major shock in the women’s draw with a stunning win.
Spanish sensation and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz took down fellow 21-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz, the second seed, dominated from the start, breaking the Frenchman’s serve in the very first game of the match. Though he faced three break points while serving for the opening set, the 20-year-old saved them all, closing the set with confidence. He repeated his quick start in the second set, breaking Mpetshi Perricard’s serve again and sealing the match on his first match point. “Saving three break points and being able to close the first set was really important for me,” Alcaraz said after the match. Despite a minor hiccup when he was handed a second time violation, Alcaraz maintained his composure and moves on to face Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the second round.
Meanwhile, Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev eased through his first-round match with a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over veteran Gael Monfils. The 2021 US Open champion controlled the match from start to finish, never allowing the 38-year-old Frenchman to find his rhythm. Medvedev will now face another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino, in the second round on Saturday.
The women’s draw saw a major upset as China’s Zhang Shuai, ranked 595th in the world, stunned US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-2. Zhang, a former top 25 player who has been battling injuries, has not won a singles match in over 600 days until this week. She delighted her home crowd by dismantling Navarro, the sixth seed, and advancing to the third round. “Another great win for my career because everybody knows I went a long time without winning a singles match,” Zhang said after the match. She will face Belgium’s Greet Minnen in the next round.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Alcaraz and Medvedev as they push toward the title, while Zhang’s remarkable comeback story continues to capture the hearts of tennis fans.
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