By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday October 4, 2022
David Goffin notched his third career win over a reigning No.1 on Tuesday in Kazakhstan.
Photo Source: TTV
Carlos Alcaraz’s first ATP main draw as World No.1 has ended abruptly.
The top-ranked Spaniard fell to Belgium’s David Goffin on Tuesday night at the Astana Open, 7-5, 6-3.
Goffin records his third career win over a top-ranked player (the other two came against Nadal) and earns a second-round match with France’s Adrian Mannarino.
Alcaraz didn’t look like the same player who had just stormed to his maiden major title at the US Open in September. He was slow off the mark, didn’t move with the same purpose, and was minus-19 in the winner to unforced error category (15 winners and 34 unforced).
The Spanish teen only managed to win 26 of 54 first-serve points and was broken five times across the one hour and 46-minute contest.
Alcaraz did have his chances, however.
The 19-year-old Spaniard briefly led by a break in the opening set at 2-1, but never consolidated the break and quickly trailed 5-2.
Alcaraz, who dropped to 52-11 on the season and suffered his first loss in straight sets, leveled at 5-all but then dropped the next five games to find himself behind by a set and 3-0.
After falling behind by 5-1 double break in set two, Alcaraz broke and held to close to 3-5, but Goffin was up to the task as he held to 30 while serving out the match.