Alcaraz wins testing Queen's opener
Carlos Alcaraz came through a testing first-round match against Australia's Adam Walton at Queen's on Tuesday as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph.
The Spaniard, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last year, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on a sweaty day in west London.
Alcaraz, who overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros just nine days ago, broke in the seventh game and went on to clinch the first set against lucky loser Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after the Spaniard withdrew due to illness.
The 2023 Queen's champion appeared to have found his rhythm only for Walton to rally impressively, carving out two set points on his opponent's serve in the 10th game.
But the Australian failed to convert either of them and Alcaraz levelled, coming out on top in the subsequent tie-break.
Alcaraz scribbled "Grass season, here we go!" on the courtside camera lens, thanking fans for their vocal support and saying he felt "loved" in London.
"First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again," he said. "So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit."
The world number two said he had taken time away from tennis after his gruelling French Open triumph to "reset" his mind and rest.
"I'm just really happy with the performance that I had today," he said. "First match, I feel great. Obviously, a lot of things to improve, a lot of things that I have to put into work just to feel a little bit more comfortable on the grass. But in general, I'm just happy to get through."
Earlier, British second seed Jack Draper dispatched American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round.
The left-hander, who has previously beaten Sinner and Alcaraz at Queen's, won 93 percent of first-serve points and did not face a break point in a dominant display. Draper is chasing his second title on grass after winning in Stuttgart last year and will next face Alexei Popyrin after the Australian beat compatriot Aleksandar Vukic.
"Feels amazing, no place I'd rather be," said the British player. "We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you.
"It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late, not on time. The more matches and time I have on practice courts I'll get better and better."
Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka upset rusty fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-2 in the opening match on the Andy Murray Arena.
Samsonova downs Osaka
Russia's Liudmila Samsonova came from behind to beat Naomi Osaka while Australian Open winner Madison Keys crashed out in the first round of the Berlin Open on Tuesday.
World number 20 Samsonova, who won the tournament in 2021, edged past the four-time Grand Slam champion 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
Samsonova's victory sets up a last-16 clash with American world number three Jessica Pegula, last year's winner, on Wednesday.
"I was just trying to fight until the end," Samsonova said of her struggles early in the match, adding she wanted "to push and try to find my game".
Osaka broke her opponent twice in the opening set but Samsonova held her serve throughout the second before winning the final five points of a tie-break.
Both exchanged breaks in the final set before the Russian 26-year-old broke a second time, putting her on track for victory.
Former world number one Osaka's defeat is the latest setback in her comeback since returning from maternity leave last year, having also lost in the first round of the French Open.
Sixth-ranked Keys also failed to make it past the opening round, losing to 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 7-6 (8/6).
The victory was Vondrousova's first over a top-10 opponent this year as she battles her way back from a shoulder injury.
"I'm a player who needs matches to play good," Vondrousova. "And the shoulder is good now, I'm very happy to be back, and I'm hoping to play as many matches as I can."
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