Top seed Carlos Alcaraz began his Wimbledon 2023 campaign by sending French veteran Jeremy Chardy into retirement. The Spaniard blasted the French off the court with a 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 drubbing. In the match, which was played under the roof, the 20-year-old completely dismantled Chardy. The Frenchman wasn’t up to the mark in the first two sets, as the world no. 1 was firing down ferocious serves and rasping forehands with frightening power. Chardy upped his game in the third set and even broke Alcaraz to go 4-2 up. The top seed, however, showed why he’s considered a favourite for the Wimbledon title as he went on to win five of the next six games.
At about the same time as eight-time champion Roger Federer was receiving a rapturous reception as a Royal Box guest across on Centre Court, Alcaraz showed why he is billed as the future of men’s tennis on Court One.
Also Read: WATCH Roger Federer get standing ovation as he returns to Wimbledon
US Open champion Alcaraz, who returned to the top of the ATP rankings after winning the Queen’s Club title on grass last week, blasted through the opening set in 20 minutes.
When he won the first two games of the second set it began to look really ugly for the 36-year-old Chardy whose 56th and final Grand Slam tournament was turning into a horror show.
Chardy, the former world number 25 who once beat Federer, finally got on the scoreboard with a service hold greeted by warm applause.
He turned the match into a contest in the third set as the rifle-shot sound of Alcaraz’s ball-striking was temporarily muffled by rain hammering on the translucent roof.
Alcaraz trailed 4-2 after a sloppy service game but he was not in the mood for retirement gifts and buckled down again to finish off his opponent in a shade under two hours, sealing victory with an ace.
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