Basel, Oct 25: Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz rallied to beat Jack Draper 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors.
Alcaraz clinched with his third match-point chance, firing a forehand winner when following in a strong 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 comeback on tour. But the Swiss great ended his career last month because of a persistent knee injury.
The victory was the Spaniard’s first on tour since winning his first Grand Slam singles title, the US Open, last month. He lost in straight sets to David Goffin in a first-round match three weeks ago in Astana, Kazakhstan. Goffin was beaten by American Brandon Nakashima 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. (AP)
