Paris: World number two, Carlos Alcaraz, commenced his Paris Masters campaign with a decisive 7-5, 6-1 victory against Nicolas Jarry in the second round on Tuesday.
Alcaraz, who fell at the same stage last year, sailed through against the Chilean opponent with 13 winners and just six unforced errors.
“It’s always hard to compare your tennis year to year, but I am in a much better state mentally,” Alcaraz told a press conference.
“I do want to play at my best level at this part of the season. I’m motivated to win this tournament and to get good results. Last year, the court was probably slower but it’s difficult to compare.”
The Spaniard aims to narrow the 4,300-point gap with the world number one, Jannik Sinner, who has withdrawn from the tournament because of a virus.
“It’s never good news when the best player in the world withdraws from a tournament. I wouldn’t meet him before the final but I love to see him playing as a tennis fan,” Alcaraz added.
With the reigning champion Novak Djokovic out of the competition, French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz is eager to claim his fifth title of the year.
In earlier matches, Britain’s Jack Draper overcame Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-2, while Danish 13th seed Holger Rune narrowly defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-4, and Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur comfortably beat Mariano Navone 7-5, 6-1.
American Alex Michelsen triumphed over 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
Other notable exits from the indoor tournament included Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev, who was defeated 7-6(6), 7-6(5) by Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, and 14th seed Frances Tiafoe, who was ousted by Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3.
In later matches, 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece secured a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alejandro Tabilo, and Australian Jordan Thompson upset seventh seed Casper Ruud 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4.
