Alcaraz kicks off career Grand Slam bid with tough Australian Open test

The Spanish superstar won 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena, blasting eight aces and 38 winners to set up a second-round clash with Germany's Yannick Hanfmann. But he also made 36 unforced errors, more than his 81st-ranked opponent, in his first competitive clash for nine weeks. "First of all, I'm just really, really happy to step on the court once again for the first time this season," he said, having only played a light-hearted exhibition against great rival Jannik Sinner in the lead-up.