Paris: Carlos Alcaraz began his title defence at the 2025 French Open with a commanding performance that put to rest any lingering concerns about his fitness or form. In a confident display on Monday, the 22-year-old Spaniard dispatched Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round.
Coming into Paris, Alcaraz had been under scrutiny following an adductor injury that sidelined him from the Madrid Masters earlier this month. But under the grey skies of Roland Garros, the second seed showed no signs of physical trouble. Moving freely and playing aggressively, he looked every bit the champion who triumphed here last year.
“It’s never easy playing the first round of a Slam, especially when you’re defending the title,” Alcaraz said. “But I felt strong from the first point and managed to stay focused and consistent.”
Alcaraz was dominant from start to finish. He neutralized Zeppieri’s baseline game with deep groundstrokes, fired precise passing shots, and was nearly flawless at the net—winning 21 of 25 points when approaching. Most notably, he saved all three break points he faced and didn’t require any medical support or taping on his leg, indicating full recovery.
This performance adds to an impressive 2025 clay season, during which Alcaraz has now won 16 of 17 matches, including prestigious Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. His overall clay-court record since May 2024 stands at a staggering 28-2, including last year’s Roland Garros crown and a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Currently ranked World No. 2, Alcaraz is looking to become the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2020 to successfully defend the French Open men’s singles title. He acknowledged that expectations are high but insists he thrives under pressure.
“I’m trying to keep the level high throughout every match,” he said. “This is the rhythm I want to carry through the whole tournament.”
In the next round, Alcaraz will face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in what promises to be a compelling rematch. The two players have split their previous meetings 1-1, with Marozsan famously upsetting Alcaraz in Rome two years ago—a loss that the Spaniard likely remembers well.
