MADRID-. Carlos Alcaraz continues his successful comeback after an injury in the Madrid Open.
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz comfortably beat Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild in the third round of the Madrid Open on Sunday, cementing his return from injury.
Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-3 for his second consecutive victory in his first tournament after missing Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to an arm injury.
“I think I played at a very good level,” Alcaraz said. “Before the game I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure how my forearm was going to feel. It’s strong. I am very happy with my performance. It was a bit complicated at the end, with a 5-0 lead and serving at 5-3. “I’m really glad I got it in the end.”
Second seed Alcaraz had debuted in the tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Alexander Shevchenko.
Alcaraz was announced to play in the Monte Carlo Masters and was also absent from the Barcelona tournament to try to fully recover for the French Open, which is played next month.
“I think I’m in good shape now. I don’t feel anything in my forearm and I have played good tennis,” said Alcaraz, 20 years old. “Obviously I’m not hitting 100% with my forehand, but I’m just concentrating on the shot and being as relaxed as possible. “I am very happy to be competitive and play without pain.”
The number 3 in the ranking seeks to become the first player to win three Madrid Open titles in a row. His next rival will be the German Jan-Lennard Struff, his rival in last year’s final in the Spanish capital.
Andrey Rublev continued his comeback with a 7-6 (10), 6-4 victory against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The world number 8 arrived in Madrid on a four-match losing streak before beating Facundo Bagnis in his first match in the Spanish capital.
Tallon Griekspoor earned his first win against a top-20 player on clay on Sunday, defeating No. 12 Holger Rune 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of an ATP 1000 event for the second time in his career. career.
The American Taylor Fritz, who had just played the final in Munich, defeated the Argentine Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-3, while Francisco Cerúndolo achieved his first victory of the season against one of the top 20 by beating the 15th seed Tommy Paul 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-2.
WOMEN
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faced 19-year-old American Robin Montgomery, who arrived with a wild card, winning 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4.
Sabalenka is trying to become the second woman to win three Madrid titles after triumphing in the Spanish capital in 2021 and 2023. Petra Kvitova won the Madrid Open in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
In the next round, Sabalenka will face American Danielle Collins, who came back to defeat Jaqueline Cristian 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 for her 15th consecutive victory. Collins came into the tournament having won the Charleston and Miami Opens.
Sara Bejlek beat Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-1, while 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached the round of 16 for the second year in a row with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over the seventh-ranked series Marketa Vondrousova, current Wimbledon champion.
Source: AP
