By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, March 24, 2023
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz crushed Facundo Bagnis 6-0, 6-2 in his Miami Open return raising his 2023 record to 15-1.
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty
MIAMI—Launching into kangaroo high hops before the coin toss, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz sent a signal of intent to Hard Rock Stadium.
Even when the ball wasn't in play, Alcaraz looked like a man going places.
TN Q&A: James Blake on Miami Open
The 19-year-old Spanish sensation launched defense of his Miami Open title soaring through eight consecutive games in a crushing 6-0, 6-2 conquest of 100th-ranked Facundo Bagnis.
It was an ideal start for the defending champion. Facing a veteran opponent who lacked serious weapons to truly test him, Alcaraz scored his seventh straight win in Miami.
"I'm really happy with my performance," Alcaraz told Andrew Krasny afterward. "To start a new tournament, different conditions on different courts, I'm getting used to these conditions.
"So I as I said, I have great memories here. It's great to come back and play here."
How dominant was Alcaraz? He won 17 of 21 first-serve points, faced only two break points and was overwhelming against a jittery Bagnis for much of this match.
This win sends Alcaraz into the round of 32 vs. either Dusan Lajovic, who toppled two-time champion Andy Murray in round one, or 30th-seeded serve-and-volleyer Maxime Cressy, who will certainly be a bigger threat to hold than Bagnis was today.
We asked Alcaraz at media day what surface is he most comfortable moving on?
Alcaraz replied "hard court" and did not hesitate offering that answer.
American hard-courts have been fast tracks to success for the Spaniard, who has won his last 14 hard-court matches on United States soil with his 2021 US Open title run, his maiden Indian Wells crown last week and now his first win defending Miami.
After conquering Casper Ruud in the 2022 Miami Open final, a then 18-year-old Alcaraz said he felt he was ready to win a Grand Slam. His feeling proved prophetic and now he's in the market for more majors and Masters titles.
"It is different to be back here as a defending champion. Yeah, I think when I say that I'm ready to win a Grand Slam, yeah, it was not wrong," Alcaraz said. "Here I'm going to say the same: So I going to win another Grand Slam.
"Obviously is great to play here. I would say is no different to play a first round here than last year. I would say the only difference is I play in the center court and last year I was not. It's that difference only."
Stadium court against the world No. 1 was major culture shock for the Argentinean veteran.
A skittish Bagnis double-faulted away the opening break at love providing the defending champion a clean runway for takeoff.
Alcaraz tore through 11 consecutive points to open before Bagnis finally got on the board with a drop volley to stop the bleeding.
When the 33-year-old Argentinean scattered a forehand, Alcaraz scored his second straight break.
The Indian Wells champion was driving the ball deep stamping his second consecutive shutout hold for a 4-0 lead after 11 minutes of play.
The US Open champion is so quick coming out of the corners he shrunk space for Bagnis to explore. Three service games and three love holds from Alcaraz saw him dispense the bagel in 23 minutes.
Dropping eight consecutive games to open, Bagnis gained two game points 40 minutes into the match to snap the shutout. When Bagnis finally broke through to win a game he flipped his racquet in the air with delight.
Though Bagnis got the break to even after four games, Alcaraz ran off the final four games.
On his second match point, Alcaraz painted the baseline with a forehand flourish finishing off his seventh straight win in 64 minutes.
The game plan, Alcaraz said, is to put his title defense out of mind and concentrate on now.
"I'm trying not to think about I won last year," Alcaraz said. "I always say the same when I come into a tournament: for me is a new tournament.
"It's day by day, round by round, try to play my best in every day, try to enjoying in every match, as well. That's the only goal and only thoughts on my mind in every match."