German Dominik Koepfer rolled an ankle only six points into the match and never posed a threat as holder Carlos Alcaraz began his US Open title defence with a 6-2, 3-2, retirement win in the first round..
The Spaniard who won the New York title as a teenager a year ago, watched impatiently as his opponent received a medical timeout to get his left ankle taped after injuring it on the previous point, 40-all.
The Spaniard profited from this month’s title experience from Cincinnati to the court, breaking seconds later to claim the first game of the evening.
Alcaraz rolled to victory in an hour as his opponent could not go on with his ankle in pain.
The winner next plays South African Lloyd Harris, whose game he knows from training sessions.
“He has big shots; I must be focused on the next match.
“It will be a tough one and I must be ready to play my best in the second round.”
.Alcaraz is wearing a sleeveless shirt which echoes the Rafael Nadal look of 15 years ago.
The 20-year-old is bidding to become the first man to defend the title here since Roger Federer, 2004-2008.
