Alcaraz Downs Dimitrov, Davidovich Fokina Upsets Rune In Thriller; Medvedev, Tsitsipas Monday

Carlos Alcaraz stayed alive in his Madrid title defense knocking out Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 7-5 to reach the fourth round.

Alcaraz was in total control early — he lost just two points on serve in the first set — before Dimitrov played some incredible tennis to grab a break for 4-2 in the second. But the Bulgarian gave it right back.

Alcaraz’s relentless game finally broke Dimitrov down again breaking at 5-all and then he serve it out to win five of the last games.

Alcaraz, who turns 20 on Friday, improves to 25-2 on the year and he’s won his last 17 in Spain. He’ll now face Alexander Zverev in a rematch of their 2022 Madrid final.

Zverev thumped qualifier Hugo Grenier 6-1, 6-0. He leads Alcaraz 3-1 in their series.

“I really want to play that match. We played a few times, head-to-head he is up,” Alcaraz said. “I really want to show my great level here in front of my home crowd. I have great memories from last year in the final but obviously I have to be really focused in that match. I know that Sascha is a really good player, a really aggressive one with good serves. I have to show all my skills.”

No. 5 Andrey Rublev sent out No. 28 Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets 6-2, 7-5.

No. 10 Karen Khachanov eliminated the 20th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. No. 17 Borna Coric surprised No. 12 seed Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(7-3), 6-3.

And the night ended just past 1am with the match of the day as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stunned Holger Rune 7-6(7-1), 5-7, 7-6(7-5).

Rune rallied in the second after the Spaniard was embroiled in issues with the electronic line calling. Rune would then get a quick break to start the third but Davidovich Fokina would reset.

However, when asked to serve it out, Davidovich Fokina completely failed. Rune would push for a breaker but Davidovich hung on for the big win.

“Mentally and physically it was very hard,” Davidovich Fokina said to the ATP. “Rune is a very good player. It was always tough games and we had to stay focused on every service, because you never know when you have the break point.

“I had my chances in the third set too, but I had a lot of tension and I was a little bit anxious to finish the point,” he said. “But I did well and I’m very happy.”

The Monday ticket boasts third round action led by No. 2 Daniil Medvedev gets the rising Alexander Shevchenko in a first-time tour-level meeting.

No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas draws No. 25 Sebastian Baez, No. 8 Taylor Fritz tests Cristian Garin, No. 9 Frances Tiafoe draws Pedro Cachin and No. 11 Cameron Norrie meets Zhizhen Zhang.

MONDAY MADRID MASTERS SCHEDULE
MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM
Starting At: 11:00 am
ATP [Q] Alexander SHEVCHENKO vs Daniil MEDVEDEV [2]
Not Before 1:00 PM
WTA [WC] Mirra Andreeva vs Aryna Sabalenka [2]
Not Before 4:00 PM
WTA Paula Badosa (ESP) [26] vs Maria Sakkari (GRE) [9]

Not Before 8:00 pm
ATP Sebastian BAEZ (ARG) [25] vs Stefanos TSITSIPAS (GRE) [4]
WTA Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs Ekaterina Alexandrova [16]

ARANTXA SANCHEZ STADIUM
Starting At: 11:00 am
WTA Mayar Sherif (EGY) vs Elise Mertens (BEL) [24]
ATP Pedro CACHIN (ARG) vs Frances TIAFOE (USA) [9]
ATP [Q] Roman SAFIULLIN vs Bernabe ZAPATA MIRALLES (ESP)
ATP Taylor FRITZ (USA) [8] vs Cristian GARIN (CHI)
Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA Jessica Pegula (USA) [3] vs Martina Trevisan (ITA) [18]

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