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.”
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.
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 the winner between Taylor Fritz and Luciano Darderi.
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