There's no escape from Alcaraz!

Tommy Paul's serving into the wind now, so it's even trickier to control his pace. Alcaraz soon punishes a loose second serve from the American with a terrific forehand down the line. 0-15.

You concede on your serve after a mammoth game, and then in the next one your opponent holds to 15 in no time at all.

You've got to feel sorry for Paul who's unable to break back after Alcaraz places a class backhand winner.

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Greg Rusedski
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sounds

I mean, would you just look at the shot-making in this game so far!

It seems early on here in the match but this could be exceptionally important for this opening set.

The longer the rallies go, the better it is for Carlos Alcaraz though. It becomes more physical and I favour the Spaniard in that category, especially tonight.

There we go, that's the break! A 10-minute-plus game ends with a wonderful cross-court forehand winner from Alcaraz. Again, far too much pace from the Spaniard. A cannonball of a strike.

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Paul's trying too much. He hits a forehand long.

Oh wow. That's a properly good tennis shot. On the run, Alcaraz lobs the tall Paul with a brilliant forehand.

Big blast down the middle. Paul's getting his serves in.

Unreturnable serve from Paul. We're level again.

This game keeps on going. Alcaraz gets a load of curl on to a forehand and places it right in the corner so Paul can't get it back in play on the run.

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Better from Paul. He's made to come into the net, but ends up saving break point with a volleyed winner.

Tommy Paul's not found his length yet. On the approach he loops a forehand long.

Ah, the first chance slips by as Alcaraz nets a forehand.

It's so hard to win a point against Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard gets a first serve back into play, and then Paul wallops a backhand into the net.

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Overhead smash from Paul puts the American on the brink of taking this game, but he then misses a forehand down the line to put Alcaraz back in it at 40-30.

Big point coming up and Paul dominates the rally, but it's Alcaraz who ends up celebrating after a beautiful forehand winner into the corner, struck while he was on the slide.

Alcaraz is up to his old tricks. Paul makes a poor choice to come to the net and is a little exposed as Alcaraz dinks over a lovely chip which the American can't intercept.

Really nice tennis to put Alcaraz up 0-15, but Paul responds with two strong forehands to get on the board.

Favourite Alcaraz absolutely wallops a forehand winner down the line, leaping into a shot and beating Paul for pace.

He continues his dominant start with a volley at the net to help him hold to love.

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Greg Rusedski
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sounds

Carlos Alcaraz has to be the favourite tonight. He is the defending champion, he has been brilliant on clay this year and he is on a bit of a winning streak right now.

Their head-to-head is 4-2 in his favour. Tommy Paul's two wins were both on hard court and, unfortunately for him, this is clay.

Carlos Alcaraz starts things off, and Tommy Paul returns his serve a little long.

Right, warm-ups done, we're about to get started. Fingers crossed for a good one.

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Of course, Alcaraz won that tournament in Rome. He also won in Monte Carlo this year, too. He's not bad on clay, you know.