BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz, the top earner, rallied to beat Jack Draper 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Swiss Indoors opener on Monday.
Alcaraz was given his third chance in the fit ball, firing a winning forehand after a counterfeit serve that left-hander Draper stretched to return.
The first Basel tournament since before the COVID-19 pandemic was intended to be Roger Federer’s hometown to return to touring. But the wonderful Swiss ended his career last month due to a lingering knee injury.
Alcaraz, 19, and Draper, 20, were younger than Federer’s 41, and both were for the first time in Basel, where he won a record 10 titles between 2006-19.
The Briton, ranked 45th, twice broke Alcaraz’s serve and committed 3 direct fouls in the first set.
Alcaraz raised his game at the time of the set and forced two breaks of serve giving Draper a chance.
The Spaniard’s first victory on an excursion since winning his first Grand Slam singles title, the US Open, last month. He lost in straight sets to David Goffin in the first round 3 weeks ago in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Goffin lost Monday in Basel to American Brandon Nakashima, 44th, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
The 10th most sensible former Belgian player, now ranked 53rd, won a wild card in the tournament where he lost the 2014 final to Federer.
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