Alcaraz cruises past Vavasorri in Rotterdam Open

Rotterdam: Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz eased into the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open on Thursday with a comfortable straight-sets win over Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori.

The top-seeded Alcaraz had far too much firepower and accuracy for the Vavassori, ranked 317 in the world, running out a 6-2, 6-1 winner in just over an hour.

“Today, I think I hit everything pretty well. I’m just hopeful I can keep going and be a bit better next round,” said the Spaniard after the match.

Wearing a breathing aid as he recovers from illness, Alcaraz got off to a flying start, breaking in the very first game and sealing the set 6-2 as the Italian pushed a forehand wide.

The Spaniard again broke early in the second set, taking the third game with a sumptuous lob. A second break followed quickly afterwards as the Italian double-faulted.

Alcaraz wrapped up the match with another break of serve, sending a powerful forehand return to the feet of the Italian, who could only poke it wide.

“I had no ups and downs today which is good for me, something I’m working on,” said Alcaraz.

Thursday’s victory was a stark contrast to his first-round match, when he required nearly three hours to dispatch local hero Botic van de Zandschulp.

“The first match of every tournament it’s never easy to get used to the conditions, so I’m just trying to make the most of the time I spent here in the first round,” he said.\Stefanos Tsitsipas saved a match point and battled from a set down to advance into the quarterfinals with a gruelling win over local hope Tallon Griekspoor.

The world number 12 eventually overcame spirited resistance from the Dutchman with a 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 victory in a match lasting around three hours.

Last year’s runner-up Alex de Minaur, who defeated Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-4, also qualified for the quarterfinals. Agencies

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