World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his third consecutive Madrid Masters title. The Spaniard missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to a right arm injury. Carlos recovered ahead of Madrid, scoring two wins at Caja Magica and moving into the last 16. Alcaraz faced Thiago Seyboth Wild in the third round and scored a 6-3, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 15 minutes, hitting well with his troubled arm and remaining on the title course. Carlos notched his 13th consecutive win at Caja Magica, moving closer to Rafael Nadal’s record of 14. The Spaniard dominated with his first serve, dropping only four points but struggling a bit behind the second serve.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
However, the 20-year-old faced only two break points, losing serve once after building a massive advantage and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Brazilian lost half of the points in his games, playing against six break points and suffering four consecutive breaks, ending his run in the third round. Carlos landed 18 service winners and hit 20 winners from the field and 18 unforced errors. The home favorite had the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced rallies, taming his strokes nicely and sailing over the top. Alcaraz defended superbly in the opening game of the encounter and created a break chance. Seyboth Wild denied it with an ace and held, avoiding an early setback.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos Alcaraz is seeking his third consecutive Madrid Masters title.
Carlos leveled the score at 1-1 with a service winner and grabbed the fourth game at love after an ace. Thiago closed the fifth game with a smash winner at the net before Carlos locked the result at 3-3 with a forehand crosscourt winner in the next one. The Spaniard created two break chances in the seventh game and seized the second after the Brazilian’s basic forehand error, moving 4-3 in front and gaining a boost. Carlos fired a service winner in the eighth game, rattling off 11 of the previous 14 points and forging a 5-3 advantage. Alcaraz made another push on the return in the ninth game, securing a break at 15 after Seyboth Wild’s double fault and wrapping up the opener 6-3 after 36 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos held at love at the beginning of the second set after a service winner and grabbed a break at 15 in the next one after Thiago’s volley error at the net. Seyboth Wild squandered game points at 0-3 and faced a break point after missing a tweener. The Brazilian sprayed another forehand error, losing serve for the fourth straight time and moving closer to the exit door. Alcaraz fired a backhand crosscourt winner in the fifth game, rattling off nine games and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match. Thiago finally held in game six and scored his only break at 1-5 after Carlos’ forehand mistake. Seyboth Wild held at 30 in the eighth game, winning three straight games and improving his position. However, Alcaraz served for the win for the second time at 5-3 and created match points with a service winner. The Spaniard seized the first after the Brailian’s backhand error, moving over the top in style and celebrating his 13th consecutive win at Caja Magica.
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