Alcaraz wins ‘difficult’ first match since Melbourne win

Carlos Alcaraz says he was glad to get through some “difficult moments” against Arthur Rinderknech as he won his first match since triumphing at last month’s Australian Open.

Top seed Alcaraz had to save two set points in the second set but won 6-4 7-6 (7-5) against the unseeded Frenchman in the first round of the Qatar Open in Doha.

It was seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz’s first match since beating Novak Djokovic in Melbourne to become the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam.

“It was really difficult,” said the Spaniard.

“Arthur is a really dangerous player. Nobody wants to play against him in the first round, I’m happy with the level. I’m happy that I got through difficult moments in the match.”

Alcaraz, 22, started well and broke to go 3-2 up, before comfortably seeing out the rest of the set to take it 6-4 with a deft volley at the net.

World number 30 Rinderknech improved from there, earning two set points at 6-5, but Alcaraz, helped by his 28 winners in the match, saved them before coming out on top in the tie-break.

He sealed victory with a forehand down the line and sets up a second-round tie against France’s Valentin Royer, who beat countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-0 6-3.

The second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships was hit by fitness issues again as four players, including fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, advanced because of player withdrawals.

Andreeva went through when opponent Daria Kasatkina pulled out before the tie, while ninth seed Belinda Bencic was also handed a walkover when Sara Bejlek withdrew prior to the match.

Paula Badosa retired after losing the first set 6-4 against sixth seed Elina Svitolina, while Ella Seidel withdrew after dropping the first set 6-0 to Jaqueline Cristian.

The withdrawals follow nine dropouts in the first round, which saw seven lucky losers from qualifying fill the main draw.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced it is launching “the Tour Architecture Council” to oversee improvements to the women’s game.

In a statement, WTA chair Valerie Camillo says the council has been set up because the “current calendar does not feel sustainable for players given the physical, professional and personal pressures of competing at the highest level”.

Chaired by American world number five Jessica Pegula, the council is set to “develop meaningful improvements to the calendar, commitments and other core elements of the Tour framework”.

Potential changes to the Tour “can be implemented as soon as the 2027 season”.

The council is made up of a number of players, including former world number one Victoria Azarenka, as well as tournament directors and WTA Tour chiefs.

“This is a chance to focus on specific parts of the Tour structure and see what can be addressed in the short-term, while continuing the conversation on longer-term improvements in a dedicated, focused way,” said Pegula.