The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz returned to the Rod Laver Arena court after two years with an important victory over the Frenchman Richard Gasquet by 7-6(5), 6-1 and 6-2, in the first round of the Australian Open. The Murcian, who finished the match in two hours and 22 minutes, will face the Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the next round, who won for him against the British Daniel Evans.
In addition to Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniards Bernabé Zapata, Albert Ramos and Cristina Bucsa made their debut this Tuesday at the Australian Open. However, none of the three tennis players settled their matches with victory.
On the other side of the court, Zapata had the Czech Jiri Lehecka (32) who defeated the Valencian 6-3, 6-2 and 6-3 in 1 hour and 42 minutes. The world number 78 could not overcome the first round in his second participation in the Melbourne Open, after losing in his debut last year against the Russian Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-2 and 6-0.
For his part, Ramos, who suffered from the strong heat of Melbourne, suffered his sixth consecutive defeat in the debut of the first Grand Slam of the year. Casper Ruud, the eleventh best player in the world, gave the Catalan no option, beating him 6-1, 6-3 and 6-1, in 2 hours and six minutes.
Cristina Bucsa also lost quickly to Russian Anna Blinkova 6-2, 6-4. The Torrelavega player does not equal her best record in the Australian tournament, where in 2023 she was eliminated in the third round by the Polish Iga Swiatek, and she will fall 20 positions in the WTA ranking to position number 70.
After the losses of Albert Ramos, Bernabé Zapata and Cristina Bucsa on this day and those of Roberto Bautista, Carballés and Sara Sorribes this Monday, the ‘Spanish Navy’ is represented to date at the Australian Open by: Carlos Alcaraz, Alejandro Davidovich and Jaume Munar in the men’s team; Paula Badosa and Rebeka Masarova in the women’s.
