(Wimbledon) World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz quietly qualified for the second round of Wimbledon on Tuesday by ending the singles career of Frenchman Jérémy Chardy (542e) 6-0, 6-2, 7-5.

“I played very well at the start. In the third set he raised his level, but I like to play rallies and even if this third set was tighter, I’m happy,” commented the 20-year-old Spaniard.

Chardy, 36, is also engaged in doubles in this Major on grass. But he announced Saturday on France Info that he would retire at the end of this tournament.

For his part, the Spaniard will face another Frenchman in the second round, the winner of the match between Alexandre Müller (84e) and Arthur Rinderknech (82e), interrupted by rain as the former led 7-6, 1-0.

PHOTO ANDREW COULDRIDGE, REUTERS

Jérémy left the field under the ovation of the public.

Under the roof of court N.1, Alcaraz did not give Chardy the slightest chance (38 winning strokes against 14 for Chardy, 14 unforced errors against 36, ten aces for Alcaraz, ten double faults for Chardy). The Frenchman immediately lost the first eight games of the game to find himself trailing 6-0, 2-0.

Chardy stopped the bleeding, but still conceded a break in this second set. In less than an hour, Alcaraz was leading two sets to nil.

In the third, Chardy held his serve then broke to lead 4-2. But Alcaraz immediately broke to come back to 4-4.

Then the Spaniard took Chardy’s serve one last time to lead 6-5 and serve for the match. Alcaraz did not shake and ended on a white game punctuated by an ace.

Chardy left the field under the ovation of the public.

Elena Rybakina loses a round, but passes in the second round


PHOTO TOBY MELVILLE, REUTERS

Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina, 3e world champion and defending champion, lost the first round played this year at Wimbledon before clearly dominating the American Shelby Rogers (49e) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, Tuesday in the first round.

“The atmosphere was incredible and I am very happy to move on to the next round”, savored the 24-year-old Kazakh who will face the Frenchwoman Alizé Cornet (74e) or the Japanese Nao Hibino (127e and drafted from qualifying).

“I had a great experience here last year, in front of the royal box, but it didn’t help me because I was still very nervous,” Rybakina said of the royal box at Center Court. in which the Princess of Wales Kate and the king of places Roger Federer took place on Tuesday.

Against Rogers, Rybakina was surprised at the start and gave up her serve in the first game of the match. She never managed to pick up.

But from the second set, she clearly took the upper hand, relying in particular on her devastating serve.

This second set was just a formality and Rogers wasn’t much more threatening in the third.

What reassure Rybakina who had forfeited Roland-Garros just before his third round and had given up at the last moment to play at Eastbourne, both times due to a “viral infection”.

“I feel much better, she assured Tuesday. It was not easy to get back into shape, but it’s done and this victory will give me confidence for the future. »