Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the second round of the tournament on Tuesday after his opponent, German Dominik Koepfer, retired with an injury.
The Spaniard was leading 6-2, 3-2 when Koepfer retired, having rolled his ankle in the first game. Alcaraz will play Lloyd Harris of South Africa in the second round.
Carlos Alcaraz is into Round 2 after Dominik Koepfer retires following an ankle injury in the first set. pic.twitter.com/pijmD4EMNr
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2023
Koepfer stopped short along the baseline in the first game, twisting his left ankle and was looking unlikely that he will pup up a fight against the world No.1.
He took a medical timeout to have his ankle taped and returned to the court with the score at deuce but was clearly not at full strength and Alcaraz easily converted a break point with a well-placed drop shot.
Get well soon @DominikKoepfer! 🥲🤜🏻🤛🏻 No one likes to win like this, but felt great tonight returning to a court that is so special to me! 🗽😍💥
📸 Getty & @usopen pic.twitter.com/ctzNftC9g0
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) August 30, 2023
Koepfer buried his head in his towel after Alcaraz forced him into a forehand error to convert on a break point chance in the seventh game and after losing the first set and 3-2 down in the second, the German decided to throw in the towel.