Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes Early Struggles to Win Rotterdam Opener

The World No. 3 battled through a three-set match against Botic van de Zandschulp, raising questions about his form and consistency in the 2025 season.

• Carlos Alcaraz defeated Dutch wildcard Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 in the first round of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam.
• The match marked Alcaraz’s first appearance since his Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic, where his form was also under scrutiny.
• Critics, including former ATP pro Nicolas Escudé, noted Alcaraz’s uncharacteristic errors, static movement, and struggles to impose his aggressive baseline game.
• Alcaraz attributed some challenges to adapting to varying conditions and tennis balls on the ATP Tour, a concern echoed by other players like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
• Despite the win, Alcaraz acknowledged the need for improvement as he aims to claim his first indoor title and progress further in the tournament.

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