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World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning debut at the ATP 500 event in China, beating Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 37 minutes. The Spaniard struggled a bit on the second serve, losing serve two times but creating 16 break chances from almost half of the return points he grabbed.
Carlos delivered five breaks and sealed the deal in straight sets. Alcaraz fired 18 winners and 15 unforced errors and welcomed Hanfmann's 30 unforced errors. The German landed 15 service winners, but it was not enough to keep him safe.
Carlos forged the advantage in the shortest and most advanced exchanges, taming his strokes nicely and celebrating his 59th victory of the season. Yannick held at 15 in the encounter's first game after a service winner before squandering a game point at 1-1 with a loose backhand.
Hanfmann netted a forehand to lose serv, falling 2-1 behind but pulling the mini-break back in the next one after Alcaraz's forehand error.
Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start in Beijing.
The Spaniard delivered his second straight break in the fifth game, welcoming the German's backhand mistake and moving 3-2 in front.
Hanfmann worked hard on his serve in the seventh game, defending two break chances and pulling the break back a few minutes later after Alcaraz's wayward forehand. The Spaniard stayed focused and cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in the ninth game, securing his third break and serving for the set.
Carlos held at 15 with a booming serve for 6-4 after 52 minutes. Alcaraz served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. The young Spaniard landed a backhand down the line return winner in the third game, opening a 2-1 gap and moving closer to the finish line.
Carlos confirmed the advantage with a hold at 30 in game four thanks to a service winner before holding at love two games later for 4-2. Hanfmann saved a break point in the seventh game with a service winner, holding and remaining within one break deficit.
Alcaraz embraced a serve & volley combo in the eighth game, delivering a hold at love and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the match. Yannik played another shaky service game and faced two match points. He denied them with quick points before experiencing the third after a loose net rushing.
Carlos seized it after the rival's forehand error, moving into the second round and arranging the clash versus Lorenzo Musetti.