Carlos Alcaraz qualifies for Roland-Garros; Denis Istomin sets up Federer clash

The young Spaniard will take on a fellow qualifier in the first round in Paris

Alcaraz Madrid 2021 panoramic_PANOMasters05052021_087

Carlos Alcaraz Madrid 2021

May 28, 2021

18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz defeated Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the main draw at Roland-Garros for the first time in his career, as the qualifying draw came to an end on Friday in Paris.

Alcaraz, who won an ATP Challenger title last week, needed less than an hour to defeat Tabilo. He will be playing in his second career Grand Slam after making his debut at the Australian Open earlier this year.

“I’m really, really happy. It’s a great feeling to play here in my first main draw here in Roland Garros,” Alcaraz said as quoted by the ATP Tour. “Everyone is really hungry to qualify to the main draw, so for me it’s a great feeling. I am feeling really comfortable on court and let’s see who I play in the main draw.”

“I’m getting comfortable playing here and it’s not easy to play best of five sets, but I think I am ready. It’s not my first main draw of a Grand Slam, so I am going to improve what I did in Australia. I think I’m more ready than [I was] in Australia.”

Denis Istomin sets up clash against Roger Federer

Meanwhile, Denis Istomin defeated German Tobias Kamke 6-4, 7-6(5) to book his spot in the main draw in Paris for the 11th time in his career. Istomin will take on 20-time Major winner Roger Federer, seeded No 8 in Paris this year, in the first round.

Also moving into the main draw was Daniel Elahi Galan, the No 2 seed, who needed two hours and 54 minutes to beat Kimmer Coppejans 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4 while eighth seed Mackenzie McDonald scored a 6-4, 6-4 win over Argentine Marco Trungelliti.