NEW YORK
\nCarles Alcaraz said retaining the US Open title was not on his mind as he began the defence of his crown Tuesday with a swift win over injured German opponent Dominik Koepfer.
\nThe world number one moved into the second round when the 75th-ranked Koepfer retired because of an ankle injury with the Spaniard leading 6-2, 3-2 under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not the best way to get through into another round,\u201d said Alcaraz, \u201cbut I have to say on my side I was playing great.\u201d
\n\u201cI started pretty well. Really focused. Honestly, I didn\u2019t expect to play such a great level the beginning, the first round, here in the US Open.
\n\u201cI am very, very happy with the level, even if Domi had to retire. Have to see myself and hopefully to keep that level into the next round.\u201d
\nAlcaraz entered a Grand Slam as the defending champion for the first time, but the 20-year-old tried to downplay the significance of being the player to beat in New York.
\n\u201cI was excited to play my first round here in US Open. I mean, it was great to step on court again in the Arthur Ashe after such a great run last year. I was excited to come back,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not thinking about defending the title. I was not thinking about I was the champion last year. I just focus on playing my best level, to recover the level that I played last year, try to do same things that I did last year.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s the only thing that I\u2019m thinking right now. I try to be apart about all the pressure people put of me about the defending champion.\u201d
\nKoepfer\u2019s night was effectively cut short when he rolled his left ankle in the opening game of the match, and required a medical timeout.
\nHe gamely fought on for an hour before eventually accepting his fate, not wanting to further aggravate the injury.
\n\u201cBeing on Ashe, playing against Carlos for the first time. Probably the biggest match I\u2019ve played in my tennis career so far,\u201d said Koepfer.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s by far the coolest experience I\u2019ve had, up to deuce in the first game. It didn\u2019t last long but still you want to soak those moments up and I wanted to try my best.
\n\u201cI can\u2019t say I didn\u2019t try. I took painkillers, got it taped, but it got worse and worse. There\u2019s no point in ruining the rest of the year.\u201d
\nAlcaraz will play big-serving South African Lloyd Harris for a place in the last 32.
\nHe will surrender top spot to Djokovic after the US Open but admitted he was eager to reclaim the number one ranking before the end of the season.
\n\u201cWell, right now it\u2019s a goal for me honestly. I said before that we are having a really good battle for the No 1, Novak and I,\u201d said Alcaraz.
\n\u201cI knew that he was going to recover the No 1 after US Open. When the tournament is over, I will try to recover as soon as possible. That\u2019s my goal. I am working for that.
\n\u201cThe season has a lot of tournaments until the year is over. I\u2019ll try to recover it before the year ends.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW YORK Carles Alcaraz said retaining the US Open title was not on his mind as he began the defence of his crown Tuesday with a swift win over injured German opponent Dominik Koepfer. The world number one moved into the second round when the 75th-ranked Koepfer retired because of an ankle injury with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-352805","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n