(Madrid) Carlos Alcaraz made sure not to add his name to the list of headliners who lost at the Madrid Open on Tuesday. The local favorite instead earned his ticket to the quarter-finals by getting rid of Alexander Zverev in two sets of 6-1 and 6-2.
After second-seeded Daniil Medvedev and No. 5 Andrey Rublev lost in the fourth round of the clay-court tournament, Alcaraz continued on their way to defending their title.
It was a replay of last year’s final, when Alcarez easily defeated two-time champion Zverev in the Spanish capital.
“I think my level of play was incredible today,” Alcaraz said. I feel really good and it’s a game that gives me a lot of confidence. »
Alcaraz did not concede a break point to 13th-seeded Zverev. He hit 19 winners against 12 unforced errors, while his rival hit just nine winners against 22 unforced errors.
“This is not a normal result. Zverev is a great player and I expected a closer game,” said Alcaraz, ranked second in the world. I played well. I attacked and I didn’t let it dictate the game. That explains the result. »
Alcaraz have won their last 18 matches in Spain, having also recently triumphed at Barcelona.
On the women’s side, second seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals after overcoming a one-set delay and a break against Mayar Sherif.
Sabalenka, who won the Madrid Open in 2021, came from behind to defeat the Egyptian 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 and reach her fifth semi-final in seven tournaments this season.
Sherif, ranked 59th, is the first Egyptian to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament.
“What a crazy game!” I think she played amazing tennis. It was really difficult today, said Sabalenka. I couldn’t adjust to his game and it was driving me crazy. I’m glad I was able to put myself back together and manage to pretend the game was starting again. »
For his part, Medvedev was the victim of a surprise, losing to Aslan Karatsev, 121st in the world ranking and from qualifying.
Karatsev was dominant in a 7-6(1), 6-4 win. He thus won his first match since 2021 against a member of the world’s top 10.
Prior to his duel with Karatsev, Medvedev topped the ATP with a 33-4 record in 2023. was acquired in Sydney in 2022.
In the quarter-finals, Karatsev will face either Taylor Fritz or Zhizhen Zhang.
For his part, Khachanov won 7-6(8), 6-4, saving two set points in the tiebreaker before breaking his rival’s serve early in the second set.
By beating Rublev, Khachanov won his first match on clay against a top-10 player since 2019.
The two Russians also crossed swords three weeks ago in Monte-Carlo, when Rublev won en route to a first title in a Masters 1000 tournament.
“It’s never easy when we play against each other because we know each other so well,” said Khachanov, 12th in the ATP rankings. On the other hand, we know what to expect, but it’s still a bit of a stressful situation. We are good friends. »
“The tiebreaker [in Madrid] was crucial,” Khachanov said. It was a bit like Monte Carlo. He won the first set in a tiebreaker, then took the lead in the second set. »
Khachanov is 19-0 in 2023 when he wins the first set of a game. His next rival in Madrid will be Alcaraz.
Rublev’s tournament is not over as he and Khachanov reached the quarter-finals in doubles. They will face Jamie Murray and Michael Venus.
Daniel Altmaier also reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles draw with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Jaume Munar.
Munar resented the official for a decision that put him down 3-0 in the second set. He challenged the decision and got angry when the decision was upheld.
“I will destroy this machine!” How is it possible ? The mark is obvious,” he vociferated.
He approached a person who might be a circuit official on the outside of the court and argued with her about the protest system, telling her [they] “play for 80,000 euros here” .
