Carlos Alcaraz earns first-round win despite dealing with illness

The world No 3 earned a 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 win over 29-year-old Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round of the ATP 500 event.

Alcaraz stole the opening set on a tiebreak after trailing 3-5 and saving a set point with van de Zandschulp serving at 5-4, 40-30.

Van de Zandschulp, the world No 84, responded by securing the only break of the second set in the sixth game en route to levelling the match.

In the deciding set, Alcaraz saved a break point in his opening service game before breaking his opponent in the following game.

The Spanish star went on to close out the match in convincing fashion as he avenged his shock straight-set loss to van de Zandschulp at the 2024 US Open.

Alcaraz, who has been suffering from a cold, wore a black strip on his nose during the match.

After the match, the 21 year-old admitted he is still not feeling in peak condition physically.

"I'm not feeling 100 per cent well yet," Alcaraz explained. "I caught a cold when I was at home, but I'm feeling better every day.

"It (the nasal strip) is for my health."

Prior to the tournament, Alcaraz said: "I spent a few days at home after Australia, but I got a cold.

"I was struggling a little bit at home. I could only train for two days and then I had to rest until the cold got better.

"But spending time at home, it doesn't matter if you are sick, it is always great, having your family there. It allows you to be fresh mentally, to travel again."

The four-time Grand Slam winner also wore a nasal strip during two of his matches at the 2024 ATP Finals in November - his previous indoor tournament - having struggled with a cold.

Alcaraz will face either world No 317 Andrea Vavassori or world No 23 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round in Rotterdam on Thursday. The top seed is aiming to win his maiden title at an indoor tournament. 

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