Hopman Cup: Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz scores tight victory

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The Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz did not have much time to celebrate his second Major crown. The 20-year-old took a few days off following a historic triumph over Novak Djokovic and entered the Hopman Cup in Nice on clay.

Alcaraz faced David Goffin in the first match and prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 after an hour and 44 minutes to keep Spain alive after Elise Mertens toppled Rebeka Masarova. Alcaraz trailed 6-4, 3-1 before performing a comeback and extending his winning streak.

Carlos played better behind the second serve, although both players got broken four times from seven chances offered to the opponent. The young gun won nine points more and prevailed in the match tie break to emerge at the top.

Carlos held at 15 in the encounter's first game with a powerful serve and created a break chance in game two. Goffin denied it to avoid an early setback and landed a backhand down the line return winner in the next one for a break and 2-1.

Carlos Alcaraz produced a comeback against David Goffin in Nice.

The Belgian hit a double fault in the fourth game and lost serve at 15 to bring the Spaniard back to the positive side. Carlos squandered game points at 3-3 and got broken after David's deep return.

Goffin produced a fine hold in game eight for 5-3 and wrapped up the opener on his serve in game ten after a serve & volley combo. With a boost on his side, the Belgian broke at the start of the second set after the Spaniard's double fault to move closer to the finish line.

David served well in games two and four to open a 6-4, 3-1 gap and control the scoreboard against the world's best player. Carlos pushed strong on the return in the sixth game and seized his third break point after forcing the rival's mistake to lock the result at 3-3.

Goffin broke again in game seven before playing a loose service game a few minutes later to bring Alcaraz back to 4-4. Carlos found the rhythm on the return and secured his third straight break of serve in the tenth game to wrap up the set 6-4 and force a decider.

David made a fresh start and moved 4-0 up in the match tie break when Carlos netted a routine backhand. The Spaniard climbed back to 4-4, and they won seven points on serve in a row from 5-5. Carlos leveled the score at 8-8 with a booming serve and earned the first match point after David's loose forehand. Goffin landed a forehand wide to hand the victory to Alcaraz after an entertaining duel.