INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Carlos Alcaraz began his bid for an Indian Wells three-peat with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Quentin Halys in the first round on Saturday.
Alcaraz is looking to join tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only players to have triumphed three successive times in "Tennis Paradise."
"I couldn't wait to start the tournament, to get here again," Alcaraz said on a sunsoaked Stadium One court after dispatching his French opponent.
"Outside my country, this is my favorite tournament by far. It's a privilege."
Alcaraz will play Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round.
Twelve months ago, a swarm of bees on Stadium One court stung Alcaraz and suspended play for nearly two hours during his quarterfinal.
Lance Davis of Killer Bee Live Removal played the hero that day, removing the bees from the court without harming them and Alcaraz and Davis met at the net before Saturday's match where they shook hands and shared a laugh.
American Taylor Fritz, who lifted the trophy here three years ago, struggled to close out Italian Matteo Gigante but ultimately prevailed 6-3, 7-5 in front of a full house on Stadium Two court.
Fritz was unable to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set but broke back in the next game en route to the finish.
The third seed said he was being patient with himself as he was coming off an abdominal injury he suffered right after the Australian Open that kept him out of the tournament in Acapulco last month.
"There's definitely things I could have done better in the match but overall it was a pretty solid match," he said.
"I can't expect to come back and play perfect tennis. I've been injured, so I didn't have ideal prep coming into the tournament."
Fritz will face 30th-seeded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo for a spot in the round of 16.
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev was upset 6-4 7-5 by Italy's Matteo Arnaldi while Britain's Jack Draper beat Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in other second round action.
Reuters contributed to this story.