The Spanish world number 5 defeated the Slovak Norbert Gombos (6-2, 6-3) for his entry into the second round of the Umag tournament on Thursday.
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world No.5, won his 40th victory of the year on Thursday by beating the Slovak Norbert Gombos (117th) 6-2, 6-3 for his entry into the second round of the Umag tournament, of which he is the title holder. Alcaraz won his first title last year on the clay courts of Umag where he returns as the youngest player to reach the World Top 5 since his compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Since his victory in the final of the Croatian tournament last year against the French Richard Gasquet, the 19-year-old Spaniard has added four other titles to his nascent list, winning in particular the Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid. However, he remains on a surprise defeat in the final of the Hamburg tournament against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti last Sunday. In the quarter-finals on Friday, Carlos Alcaraz will meet Argentinian Facundo Bagnis, winner in the second round of Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1.