Alcaraz 'expected worse' at start of French Open title defence

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website and app

Carlos Alcaraz said he "expected a worse level" from himself aft opening his French Open title defence pinch a straight-set victory.

Spain's four-time awesome victor recorded an businesslike 6-3 6-4 6-2 triumph complete Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri successful conscionable 1 hr and 56 minutes.

The 22-year-old is aiming to go nan first man since compatriot Rafael Nadal successful 2020 to clasp nan Roland Garros title.

But contempt winning 27 of his 29 matches connected clay since May past year, Alcaraz said he did not expect specified a soft commencement to his campaign.

"I expected a worse level for me, honestly," world number 2 Alcaraz said.

"The first information for each tourney is ne'er easy to accommodate your crippled to nan conditions and get utilized to it.

"I'm conscionable really proud astir it. It is awesome to person these feelings successful nan first round."

Alcaraz won titles successful Monte Carlo and Rome successful nan build-up to nan French Open and vanished runner-up to Holger Rune successful Barcelona - his only nonaccomplishment successful 16 clay-court matches successful 2025.

But those performances followed a astonishment opening nonaccomplishment to David Goffin astatine nan Miami Open successful March, pinch triumph astatine nan Rotterdam Open his only occurrence connected difficult courts this year.

Discussing his shape this season, Alcaraz said: "We each cognize nan rollercoaster that has truthful acold been this twelvemonth for maine - making really bully results, past losing nan first round.

"But correct now I deliberation I recovered a really bully way again. I deliberation I'm conscionable starting to get it, emotion much comfortable approaching nan matches.

"Once I commencement nan matches, I deliberation I'm conscionable keeping nan precocious level successful nan full lucifer and during nan full tournament. "

Alcaraz, who now holds a 19-3 grounds astatine nan French Open, plays Hungarian Fabian Marozsan successful nan 2nd round.