World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is pursuing his third consecutive Madrid Masters title. The young Spaniard injured his right forearm ahead of Monte Carlo, missing the third Masters 1000 event of the season and withdrawing from Barcelona, dropping 500 ATP points. Carlos felt better ahead of Madrid, chasing his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season. Alcaraz easily passed the first two obstacles at Caja Magica, toppling Alexander Shevchenko and Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets and moving into the last 16. Carlos felt good about his game after the opening two matches, feeling no issues with his forearm. The young gun is still relaxed with his forehand, but the most important thing for him is to play injury-free and achieve good results in Madrid, Rome and Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Alcaraz faced no problems against Svechenko in the first match, notching a 6-2, 6-1 win in 68 minutes after a rock-solid performance. The home favorite lost serve two times and erased that deficit with a superb performance on the return, turning 64% of the points into seven breaks from 11 opportunities. Carlos took down Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3, 6-3 in the third round, sealing the deal in an hour and 15 minutes and hitting the last 16. Alcaraz did everything right behind the first serve. He faced two break points and got broken once after building a massive advantage, maintaining the pressure on the other side. Thiago could not match those numbers, facing six break points and getting broken four times.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos Alcaraz is trying to win his third consecutive Madrid Masters title.
Alcaraz produced 20 winners and 18 unforced errors, controlling the pace in the shortest and more advanced exchanges and sealing the deal in no time. Seyboth Wild saved a break point in the first game of the match and moved 3-2 in front with a smash winner. Alcaraz served well, holding at love in game four and leveling the score at 3-3 with a forehand crosscourt winner. The Spaniard made a push on the return in the seventh game and secured a break after the Brazilian’s forehand error, moving in front and landing a service winner in the next one for 5-3. Carlos grabbed another break in game nine, welcoming the rival’s double fault and closing the opener 6-3 after 36 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
The Spaniard extended his streak with a break in game two in set number two and grabbed another for a massive 4-0 advantage. Carlos clinched the fifth game with a backhand crosscourt winner, rattling off nine games and moving closer to the finish line. Thiago reduced the deficit to 5-1 before earning a break a few minutes later, prolonging the battle. Seyboth Wild held in game eight for 3-5, hoping for another strong performance on the return in game nine. However, Alcaraz earned match points with a service winner and seized the first, sealing the deal and earning his 13th straight victory at Caja Magica.
“I’m in good shape; there’s no issue with my forearm. My forehand is still not at 100% or where it was before an injury, and I’m trying to hit relaxed strokes from that wing. I’m feeling fine, and it makes me happy, as I’m focused on playing injury-free,” Carlos Alcaraz said.
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