Carlos Alcaraz overcame a second-set hiccup to win on his return to the ATP Tour over Laslo Djere in the second round at the Argentina Open on Wednesday.
Alcaraz, who rose to the world No1 ranking after last year’s US Open triumph, won 6-2 4-6 6-2 in two hours and one minute over the Serbian in Buenos Aires.
The match marked top seed Alcaraz’s first since losing to Holger Rune in the Paris Masters quarter-finals, having missed last month’s Australian Open following abdominal and hamstring injuries.
The Spanish 19-year-old displayed his trademark forehand on occasion, while he was at his tenacious best, saving six of seven break points generated by Djere.
“It’s a great feeling to win again,” Alcaraz said post-match. “It’s been a long time for me with no competition, with no matches, just recovering. Finally, I got my first win of 2023.”
Alcaraz will face Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic next after he won 6-3 6-1 over local Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Second seed Cameron Norrie was pushed for three hours by Argentinian wild card Facundo Diaz Acosta before prevailing 4-6 7-5 7-6. Diaz Acosta got within two points of victory on three occasions but could not capitalise.
