Carlos Alcaraz began his French Open marketing campaign with a press release win over Flaivo Cobolli as he dropped simply seven video games. The prime seed despatched a message to the remainder of the sphere as he survived a blip within the third set to advance 6-0 6-2 7-5 in an hour and 57 minutes.

Alcaraz was enjoying as the highest seed at a Grand Slam event for the primary time as he made his debut on the Suzanne Lenglen court docket in Paris. The world No 1 hadn’t performed a Major event since successful the US Open final September and confronted a qualifier in Cobolli.

The pair had met as soon as earlier than - three years in the past within the qualifying occasion on the Todi Challenger when Alcaraz was ranked down at No 318. It was the Spaniard who received in straight units and - now a world No 1 and Slam champion - he acquired off to a different fast begin over the Italian.

Alcaraz raced to take the opening set 6-0 in simply 24 minutes, dropping three factors on serve. And he continued his brutal assault on the world No 159’s serve, breaking to like to begin set quantity two.

Cobolli lastly acquired on the board at 1-2 within the second set, ending the highest seed’s run of video games at eight. The Lenglen crowd erupted in assist for the qualifier, who had a smile plastered throughout his face as he lastly received a sport towards Alcaraz.

The 21-year-old acquired one other sport beneath his belt however the Spaniard continued to work his magic, sprinkling in a few of his signature drop photographs to get one other break en path to taking the second set 6-2. Cobolli began to develop in confidence as he held in his first two video games of the third set to go 2-1 up - his first time main in any set.

The qualifier arrange his first two break factors of the match however Alcaraz was fast to avoid wasting them and draw stage earlier than going up a break himself. Cobolli continued to fend off Alcaraz, saving triple match level on his personal serve after which breaking with Spaniard serving for the match.