After two successful seasons on clay, Carlos Alcaraz is yet to show his A-game on the slowest surface in 2024, mainly due to injuries. Carlos has been dealing with a right forearm injury, missing Monte Carlo and Barcelona and losing in the Madrid quarter-final before skipping Rome. Alcaraz could not play at 100% at Foro Italico, missing another tournament and hoping to get ready for Roland Garros, where he reached the semi-final a year ago. The Spaniard has been ranked in the top-3 since September 2022 and will remain in the exclusive group by the end of Roland Garros. Carlos could have ended his top-3 streak after Madrid, with Daniil Medvedev standing a win away from replacing him. However, the Russian retired in the quarter-final against Jiri Lehecka due to a leg injury, staying behind the young Spaniard. Thus, Alcaraz will collect at least 91 consecutive weeks in the top-3, becoming the 16th player to achieve that since the beginning of the ATP ranking in 1973.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos cracked the top-3 after lifting his first Major crown at the 2022 US Open. A teenager became the youngest year-end no. 1 player at the end of the season and had a chance to save the ATP throne in 2023 following the Wimbledon title. However, the Spaniard lost that epic Cincinnati final to Novak Djokovic and stood no chance against the Serb for the rest of the year, finishing second and embracing an entire season in the top-3 at 20! Alcaraz is 18-5 in 2024, lifting the trophy in Indian Wells but failing to bring his best tennis at other events. Carlos fell to Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami quarter-final and felt the pain in his right arm ahead of Monte Carlo. Alcaraz withdrew from Barcelona, losing 500 ATP points and hoping for a better run in Madrid. The defending champion could not play injury-free, scoring three wins before falling to an eventual champion Andrey Rublev, losing more ATP points and barely surviving in the top-3.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos Alcaraz will stay in the top-3 by the end of Roland Garros.
A two-time defending champion made a good start in front of the home fans, ousting Alexander Shevchenko and Thiago Seyboth Wild after dropping nine games in four sets. Alcaraz had to work much harder in the repeat of last year’s final, prevailing over Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in two hours and 52 minutes. Carlos failed to seal the deal earlier, wasting a massive advantage in the decider before saving a break point at 5-5 and prevailing in the tie break. The Spaniard hit 39 winners and 33 unforced errors, beating his rival in the mid-range exchanges. Alcaraz sought the record-breaking 15th consecutive Madrid Masters win against Andrey Rublev. The Spaniard won the opener before losing ground, as the Russian beat him 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 59 minutes. Rublev dictated the pace with his forehand and landed 30 winners and 21 unforced errors.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Andrey outplayed Carlos from the baseline and played well at the net, raising his level after the opener and dethroning the home star. The Russian made the difference with the first serve and played well in the pivotal moments, saving seven out of eight break points. Struggling with his right arm and not unleashing the full power from his forehand, Alcaraz played against 13 break points and suffered three breaks, ending his run in the quarter-final and losing ATP points. The Spaniard secured a break in the fifth game of the opener and cemented it with a fine hold a few minutes later. Andrey denied two break points on serve in the ninth game before Carlos closed the opener with an unreturned serve in the tenth game, moving 6-4 in front and closer to the finish line. Rublev grabbed a break in the second game of the second set on the fifth break opportunity before saving a break point in the next one for 3-0.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Julian Finney / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Alcaraz defended three break points in the sixth game and earned a chance to pull the break back in the next one. Andrey saved break points with service winners and brought the game home for 5-2. The Russian served for the set in game nine and clinched it with a powerful serve, introducing a decider after an hour and 24 minutes. Not stopping there, Rublev earned a break at the beginning of the final set and denied two break points in the next one, settling into a fine rhythm. Carlos suffered another break in the fifth game, falling 4-1 behind and saying goodbye to the title defense dreams. Andrey served for a notable win at 5-2 and fired service winners to move over the top in style, sending the home favorite out of the competition.
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