The No. 3-ranked Carlos Alcaraz withstood a heavy barrage from big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to win 6-4, 6-4 in the China Open first round on Friday.
Second-seeded Alcaraz took both of his break point opportunities, despite the No. 51-ranked Frenchman regularly sending down 140 mph (225 kph) serves.
Mpetshi Perricard won 83% of the points behind his first serve but gave up costly errors at the beginning of each set, which Alcaraz was wily enough to capitalize on.
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“The plan was just to put as many returns in as I can,” Alcaraz said.
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