World number one Carlos Alcaraz announced the start of his Miami Open title defense in emphatic fashion, dropping just two games in a comprehensive win over Facundo Bagnis.
The 19-year-old US Open champion needed 65 minutes to claim a 6-0 6-2 win over the 100-ranked Argentine.
The Spaniard, who triumphed at Indian Wells last week, has lost just one of his 16 matches this year.
He must defend his title in Miami to remain the best player in the world.
And this despite the absence of Novak Djokovic – who is not allowed to enter the United States due to his Covid-19 vaccination status – because he needs the 1,000 ranking points that would come with success to stay. in front of the Serb.
“I knew I had to be focused for my first game,” Alcaraz said.
“Starting a new tournament is never easy. I have to be ready to get used to these new conditions but I was really focused on the game from the start and I’m happy with the way I played.”
Alcaraz was forced to miss the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open due to injury – but he is doing his best to make up for lost time.
Unstoppable in Indian Wells last week – his second title of the season after his victory in Buenos Aires in February – he announced his arrival in Miami by winning the first 11 points against a helpless Bagnis.
Bagnis couldn’t get closer, failing to earn a point on the Spaniard’s serve as Alcaraz won the first set in 24 minutes.
It was the first time the teenager had recorded a “bagel” – winning a set without conceding a game – in an opening set at an ATP Masters 1000 level event.
The crowd followed Bagnis as he offered a response with a break of serve to level it at 2-2 in the second, but Alcaraz then rocked four successive games to seal progress into the third round.
He will play Dusan Lajovic, who beat Britain’s Andy Murray on Wednesdayor Maxime Cressy next as he continues his bid to become the youngest man to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ – winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same calendar year.
On the women’s side, 22-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu, who finished UK number one Emma Raducanu challenge earlier this week, came back to defeat world number 10 Maria Sakkari 5-7 6-3 6-4.
France’s world number four Caroline Garcia and Tunisia’s fifth-ranked Ons Jabeur were also beaten.
Garcia lost 6-2 6-3 to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the second round.
Jabeur suffered a surprise 6-2 6-2 loss to 22-year-old Russian qualifier Varvara Gracheva as the former world number two continues her recovery from a knee injury.
