French Open defending champion Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the second round at the French Open on Monday after dispatching the Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.
The 22-year-old Spaniard won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to set up a second round meeting with Fabian Maroszan from Hungary.
"It was a great match against Giulio," said Alcaraz. "I felt great hitting the balls and moving.
"The first round of every tournament is never easy to adapt your game to the conditions and get used to it."
Alcaraz, who beat Alexander Zverev in last year's men's singles final, was always in control against the 23-year-old who came through three matches in the qualifying tournament for the main draw.
Pride
"I'm just really proud about what I did. It is great to have these feelings in the first round."
In other first round games in the men's draw, there was a shock as fourth seed Taylor Fritz went out to the unseeded German Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Seventh seed Casper Ruud breezed past Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over two hours to register his fourth straight win over the veteran Spaniard in seven encounters.
"In the beginning of my career, I was really struggling to find a way to beat him," said Ruud.
"He's a very experienced player and plays a way that I wasn't so comfortable with.
"I always have that in the back of my mind, knowing it will be a tough match. He showed a great level and I really played well when it got close."
The 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka bowed out. Jacob Fearnley from Britain beat the 40-year-old Swiss 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 to clock up his first win at the French Open.
