"I'm sure I'll be better" - Alcaraz on slow Hamburg

Wednesday, 20 July 2022 at 15:00

Updated at Wednesday, 04 December 2024 at 18:16

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bySam Frape

Carlos Alcaraz needed to dig deep in his first-round match at the 2022 Hamburg Open against Nicola Kuhn.

Having won 21 while losing just two matches on clay this calendar year, Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz is many people's pick to claim this season's Hamburg Open, including his own, as he confirmed ahead of the tournament in the German city.

However, coming off a quick transition from the grass court season, the young talent has seemed to need more time than expected to adjust to the dirt.

Surprisingly losing the first set of his opening encounter in Germany against wild-card Nicola Kuhn, it took more time than he would have liked to warm up to the occasion.

Despite coming through the match relatively unscathed, Alcaraz recognized the grit it took him to get through, with the Spaniard appearing relieved to get through to the second round.

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“It was tough. I mean, the first round in every tournament is tough. I came from the grass, and the difference was too much. I’m really happy to be [through to] the second round. I’m sure that I will be better in the next round, but I’m really happy with the win."

In the second round, the young Spaniard will play against Filip Krajinovic, who defeated Sebastian Baez in the first round of the competition.

Alcaraz defeated Krajinovic last year at the Croatia Open in Umag before winning his first ATP title, and he will try to add another victory against the Serbian this year in Hamburg.

“I knew that I wasn’t playing well, so I knew I was going to have my chances to get better in the second set. Try not to miss as much as I did in the first set. I’m really happy with the change that I put in in the second set."