Alcaraz begins quest for Madrid three-peat

Carlos Alcaraz delivered a dominant performance Friday as he began his clay-court season and quest for a third consecutive Mutua Madrid Open title by downing Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1.

The second seed, who withdrew from Monte-Carlo and Barcelona due to injury, was wearing a compression sleeve on his right arm. But no physical limitations were noticeable Friday as the Spaniard ripped groundstrokes from the back of the court and often worked his way forward, converting 11 of his 12 net points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I think I did pretty well honestly. The last month I just practised slices, volleys and backhands, so I think it worked pretty well today,” Alcaraz said. “That was something I was thinking about approaching this match, trying to hit the forehand softer let’s say and trying to be aggressive with the backhand, trying to crash the net as soon as possible. I think I did a really good match in that part.”

The World No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings varied his return position, usually opting to stand far back on Shevchenko’s serve before moving towards a more aggressive baseline position within rallies. Alcaraz took free cuts at the ball, hammering 24 winners to Shevchenko’s two, and quickly changed pace with deft drop shots.

The Indian Wells champion dropped serve while holding a double-break lead in both sets, but it was not enough to deter Alcaraz from cruising to a one-hour, eight-minute victory.

Backhand at his best @MutuaMadridOpen 🎾

A 9️⃣.3️⃣ backhand #ShotQuality for @carlosalcaraz and his highest so far in 2024 📈💥#TennisInsights | @atptour | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/0J8Z4f8KDc

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) April 26, 2024

When asked about if his right arm was bothering him throughout the match, Alcaraz said, "Not at all, but I’m thinking about it. It’s not going to leave my mind I think… Coming into this week, I’ve been doing good things in practice, hitting harder, but I’m not feeling comfortable playing my forehand 100 per cent. But I think playing at this level, I’m really happy to do it. I think I can be competitive.”

A five-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, Alcaraz has won 12 consecutive matches in Madrid with title runs in 2022 and 2023. The home favourite is bidding to become the first player in tournament history to win three consecutive titles.

Alcaraz next faces Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, who ousted 28th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 on Friday. The 24-year-old Seyboth Wild is at a career-high No. 63 in this week’s PIF ATP Rankings.

Shevchenko, 23, was aiming to reach the Madrid third round for a second consecutive year. In 2023, the Kazakh pushed Daniil Medvedev to three sets in the Spanish capital.

In other action, #NextGenATP Frenchmen Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche both lost. Daniel Altmaier moved past Fils 6-2, 6-3, while Sebastian Baez, who has won two clay-court titles this season, beat Van Assche 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3.

Altmaier will next play eighth-seeded Hubert Hurkacaz after the Pole downed British lefty Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5. Hurkacz won his first clay-court tour-level title in Estoril earlier this month. Baez will take on Taylor Fritz after 12th seed beat Luciano Darderi 7-6(1), 6-4.