Alcaraz Cruises, Set Struff Rematch At Madrid Masters; Nadal, Medvedev v Korda Mon.

Carlos Alcaraz notched his 13th straight win at the Madrid Masters taking down Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil 6-3, 6-3.

The 2-time defending champion again had no forearm issues and in two matches has lost just nine games.

“I think I played at a really good level,” Alcaraz said to the ATP. “Coming into this match I was nervous a little bit because I didn’t know how my forearm was going to be. Thiago has big shots. He is really strong. I am really happy with the performance. It was difficult a little bit at the end, at 5-0 and then serving at 5-3. I am really happy to get it at the end.”

Alcaraz’s win sets up a rematch with Jan-Lennard Struff. The two met in the 2023 Madrid final.

“Hopefully the result is going to be like the final last year,” said Alcaraz. “I know his level. I know his game and I know that I have to play at my best if I am going to have to beat him. Be really focused on return, putting as many balls in and being in the rallies.”

Former winner Alexander Zverev closed the session letting slip a break lead at 5-4 in the second but won it over Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5.

No. 24 Tallon Griekspoor had the upset of the day knocking out 11th-seeded Holger Rune 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. He’s now 2-0 against the Dane.

Elsewhere on Sunday, seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev toppled No. 27 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(10), 6-4. The Spaniard led 5-0 in the second set breaker.

No. 12 seed Taylor Fritz advanced over No. 18 seed Sebastian Baez in straights 6-2, 6-3. The 21st-seeded Francisco Cerundolo upended 15th-seeded Tommy Paul in a match that went the distance 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2. The 8th-seeded Hubert Hurkacz eliminated Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 7-6(2).

The Monday ticket includes the end of third round play highlighted Rafael Nadal who meets Argentine Pedro Cachin for a first time.

“I think last few days my body feelings improved a little bit, but not sure yet,” Nadal said Saturday.

“So is not a thing about losing or winning. It’s about going on court there with the feeling that I can fight and I can be competitive and, you know, let’s go on court and dream about what can happen, no?

“So if I am not able to go on court and dream about even if it’s the minimum, minimum percentage, for me don’t make sense to go on court, no? I prefer to stay with all the amazing memories that I have.”

Top seed Jannik Sinner gets Pavel Kotov also in a first-time tour-level collision.

No. 3 Daniil Medvedev squares off against No. 25 Sebastian Korda with the two splitting four previous meetings.

“We played like what, maybe four times already? Never on clay. So could be different,” Medvedev said.

“We had always tough matches. Had some tough losses but also two good victories and two great tournaments after beating him. That’s good to know. Tough opponent. So, yeah, it’s going to be a big match, and I’m looking forward, because going to be interesting to play him on the clay court. I feel like both of us are not really clay court players, so could be interesting.”

No. 5 Casper Ruud faces No. 29 Cameron Norrie, No. 14 Ben Shelton will meet No. 17 Alexander Bublik, No. 16 Karen Khachanov clashes with Flavio Cobolli, No. 30 Jiri Lehecka draws Thiago Monteiro, and 18-year-old Jakub Mensik locks up with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

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