Alcaraz prints character and speed in his debut in Paris against Jarry

The Murcian has already said it, that he felt like he had run out of gas in 2023, but for this one, he understood from the beginning that the season is until November, not until the summer of the US Open. And this he has shown in his first foray into Paris, willing to amend a tournament that is not too easy for him (he lost in the round of 16 in 2021, retired in the quarterfinals in 2022 and did not make it past the first round in 2023), with a victory of forcefulness, alert body and fast physique against Nicolás Jarry (29 years old and 37 in the world). And some confusion.

The Spaniard left the locker room already warmed up, comfortable indoors and focused on his goal. He immediately found comfort with his tennis, clear with his forehand and backhand proposals, attentive and with fresh ideas in his movements and his strategy, which was to cancel the Chilean’s serve as soon as he could. And he did it in the second game. A break that boosted him on the scoreboard because he remained light and Jarry did not find his rhythm or his great forehand or his rest to make the Spaniard uncomfortable. The Chilean continues this negative streak in 2024: since the final in Rome, he has lost six first rounds, and since September, he has not gone past the second in any tournament.

It was 5-2 in 27 minutes, too fast, like the court, and comfortable against the Chilean, who had dispatched him in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the season. And the mess came, a couple of mistakes, one of those that the Spaniard tries to limit, but that he could not do in the ninth game, losing his serve and forced to force his body a little more to avoid playing the tie break against a server of more than two meters that has catapults instead of arms.

If there is a difference between the Murcian and many others, including this Jarry, it is that he achieves victories in those points above the limit. Where Jarry did not show enough fortitude to win his serve and extend the set towards sudden death. Alcaraz pressed and the Chilean made two errors, with his powerful forehand and with his supersonic serve, a double fault with which he offered the game and the set for the Spaniard.

The Murcian was not confident, as he already knew that Jarry can turn the situation around at any moment and it is not easy to unbalance his service. In the two games he won he had given him a lot of trouble, and he ended up giving in to the power of his right in February. That’s why he avoided the whips with reflex speed, even in the moments when the Chilean became a magician full of tricks on the net and with shots.

But the Spaniard has much more in his wardrobe, as he solved some problems with his service and stood with more and more confidence against the rest. Always placed very close to the baseline to put pressure on the opponent. He consolidated his mental strength by forcing Jarry to have to return the same ball that seemed like a winner a thousand times. And in that situation, he began to shake more.

Alcaraz won the second break for 3-1, Jarry gave him the 5-1, with hasty blows, the Chilean was devastated and confused with everything already against him. The Spaniard no longer flinched, blocked his service and finished this first Paris-Bercy duel without any stress. That there is a lot ahead.