Alcaraz’s journey through the tournament continues as he sets his sights on the second round, where he will face off against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.
Expressing his respect for his upcoming opponent, Alcaraz remarked, “He’s a great player, he has big shots so I have to be really focused on the match. Obviously, (it) is going to be a tough one.”
The matchup began with anticipation and a packed audience in the iconic American stadium, but it took an unexpected turn when underdog Koepfer suffered a grim injury just minutes into the match. With a painful twist of his left ankle along the baseline, Koepfer’s hopes of putting up a strong fight were dashed.
Taking a medical timeout for his ankle to be taped, Koepfer bravely returned to the court with the score at deuce. However, it was evident that he was not performing at full strength, allowing Alcaraz to seize the opportunity and convert a breakpoint with a well-executed drop shot.
Despite Koepfer’s display of determination in saving a break point during the first set, he later confided in his team that his ankle was in dire condition, prompting contemplation of whether he should continue.
Koepfer’s struggle persisted as Alcaraz’s exceptional form came to light, with the Wimbledon champion demonstrating his prowess by hitting over 19 winners and making minimal errors throughout the match. Alcaraz secured another break against Koepfer’s serve in the second set, leaving the German with no choice but to concede.
As Alcaraz clinched his victory, he acknowledged the energy and familiarity of the court, remarking, “Obviously I have to give credit to him… First step on the court, I felt great… the same energy that I felt last year.”
Despite this triumph, Alcaraz’s reign as the world number one will come to an end after the tournament concludes, as Novak Djokovic’s dominant performance in his opening match resulted in his ascension to the top of the rankings.
(With inputs from Reuters)