Wed Feb 05 01:30:00 IST 2025: ## Alcaraz Begins Rotterdam Campaign with Hard-Fought Win Over Van de Zandschulp
**Rotterdam, Netherlands** – World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his ABN AMRO Open campaign with a challenging 7-6(3), 3-6 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on [Date of Match]. The match, a rematch of their US Open 2024 encounter won by van de Zandschulp, saw Alcaraz overcome a second-set slump to secure his place in the second round.
Alcaraz, playing his first match since his Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic, appeared to find his rhythm late in the first set, taking it in a tie-break. However, the Spaniard struggled in the second, with van de Zandschulp capitalizing on Alcaraz’s uncharacteristic errors to level the match. The Dutch player, ranked 84th in the world, displayed impressive resilience, pushing Alcaraz to his limits.
Despite a shaky start to the second set, featuring several double faults and missed opportunities at the net, Alcaraz ultimately demonstrated his fighting spirit, showing determination to overcome his opponent. The win sets up a second-round clash against the winner of the Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Andrea Vavassori match.
Alcaraz acknowledged the challenge posed by van de Zandschulp, describing the Dutchman as a “very tough opponent” and noting the potential for an unfriendly home crowd. He expressed his determination to enjoy the experience and give his best. The Spaniard arrived in Rotterdam two days earlier than usual for training, having also been recovering from a recent cold, which he described as a beneficial mental reset. His focus now turns to continuing his campaign in Rotterdam, where he has a chance to cut into the points lead held by Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the ATP rankings.
First Piper 