Sublime Alcaraz through in straight sets against Alexandre Muller

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain, 1) bt Alexandre Muller (Fra) 6-4/7-6/6-3

By Charlie Stong on Centre Court at Wimbledon

It may be this year, it may not, but one day Carlos Alcaraz will surely be Wimbledon champion.

The 20-year-old world number one has all the shots – powerful, accurate groundstrokes, deft net play, and on several occasions today stunning drop shots from deep in the court – off both the forehand and backhand wings.

He saw off his second round opponent – France’s world number 84 Alexandre Muller – in straight sets 6-4/7-6/6-3 and afterwards said: “I wanted to enjoy every single second and I think I did. It is important to start the tournament well. I am playing well on grass. I am maybe not as experienced as some of the other guys, but I think I am getting better every match that I play.

“Playing here at Wimbledon is something special. You feel different compared to other tournaments. I try to make the people enjoy tennis, this is the most important thing.”

It was the Frenchman who started on the front foot, Alcaraz having to save break points in his second service game as he struggled to find range with his forehand.

But Alcaraz made his move in the seventh game of the set, a fine return of serve proved too good for Muller to set up break point, the Frenchman’s long forehand on the next point gifting Alcaraz the game.

By now the Spaniard was finding his form. He held the next game for 5-3 thanks to a fine backhand down the line and a brilliant forehand volley at the net.

Alcaraz set up two set points in the next game, thanks to drop shots off both forehand and backhand, which left Muller stranded, and although the Frenchman recovered to hold, Alcaraz served out the set – winning with another one of those drop shots from the back of the court.

Both players had chances to break in the second set, Muller keeping himself in the contest by saving four break points at 1-1 and another at 3-3, while Alcaraz saved one in the next game.

Comfortable holds from there on in saw the second set, which lasted just over an hour, head for a tie-break. Alcaraz raced into a 6-0 lead, and although Muller prevented the embarrassment of a 7-0 tie-break, Alcaraz’s lovely angled forehand half-volley at the net secured the set on the third of six set points.

The third set followed a similar pattern of service holds until the eighth game. Two sloppy unforced errors into the net from Muller took the score from 40-15 to deuce, and when Alcaraz managed to set up break point, a fine forehand winner secured the crucial game – and a 5-3 lead.

Muller fought hard in the next game, a double-handed backhand pass making it 30-30 before Alcaraz hit a forehand wide to bring up break point.

Alcaraz saved it, and Muller then saved one match point with a stunning backhand return down the line – the return of the match.

But he could resist no longer, and Alcaraz took the second match point, passing into the deep with his opponent stranded out wide.

Pictured top: Carlos Alcaraz v Alexandre Muller on Centre Court today (Picture: Charlie Stong)