Carlos Alcaraz takes moment at French Open to reflect on making his dreams a reality

• Tennis News
• ATP Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, 20, reveals it was 10 years ago when he started dreaming of becoming a tennis pro and the world No 1. Alcaraz, who became the world No 1 for the first time after winning the 2022 US Open, kicked off his French Open campaign on Monday with a 6-0 6-2 7-5 win over Flavio Cobolli.

At this year's French Open, Alcaraz is the top-seeded player at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. After beating Cobolli, Alcaraz reflected on his dreams becoming a reality. "I was 10 years old when I started to think about being a professional tennis player and my dream was to be world No.

1. And 10 years later, I’m! It’s incredible," Alcaraz said, per Tennis Majors.

Carlos Alcaraz : « I was 10 years old when I started to think about being a professional tennis player and my dream was to be world No.

1. And 10 years later, I’m! It’s incredible. » #RolandGarros2023 — Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) May 29, 2023

Alcaraz ousts Cobolli

Cobolli, 21, won three qualifying matches at Roland Garros last week to reach the French Open main draw.

But Alcaraz set the tone early on against Cobolli, breaking the Italian three times to easily win the first set. After giving Cobolli a bagel in the first set, Alcaraz also started the second set with an early break and a 2-0 lead.

In the seventh game, Alcaraz broke Cobolli for the second time in the set for a 5-2 lead before serving out for a two-set lead in the following game. Early in the third set, Cobolli earned his first break points of the match but Alcaraz saved the Italian's two break points in the fourth game.

After saving two break points, Alcaraz broke Cobolli in the seventh game to open a 4-3 lead in the third set. Up by two sets, Alcaraz also had a 5-3 lead and three consecutive match points on Cobolli's serve. But Cobolli refused to quit, saving all three match points and then breaking back Alcaraz in the 10th game to tie the third set to five games.

However, Alcaraz was able to keep his focus as he broke Cobolli again in the 11th game and served out for the match in the following game.