Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion at the Madrid Open, showcased his dominance by defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild in the third round on Sunday. Alcaraz, who had skipped the Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments due to an arm injury, displayed a strong performance to secure a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Reflecting on his match, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his level of play despite initial nerves about his forearm condition. The 20-year-old player commended Seyboth Wild's powerful shots but ultimately felt pleased with his own performance. Alcaraz's win marked his second consecutive victory in the tournament, following his earlier triumph against Alexander Shevchenko.
Alcaraz, seeded second in the competition, emphasized his focus on recovery and preparation for the upcoming French Open. He highlighted feeling in good shape and being able to compete without experiencing pain in his forearm. Alcaraz is aiming to make history by clinching a third consecutive Madrid Open title, a feat yet to be achieved by any player.
In the next round, Alcaraz is set to face Jan-Lennard Struff, his opponent in last year's final at Madrid. Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev continued his resurgence with a hard-fought 7-6 (10), 6-4 victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Rublev, ranked eighth in the world, broke a four-match losing streak prior to his successful run in Madrid.
Another notable result saw Tallon Griekspoor secure his first top-20 win on clay by defeating world No. 12 Holger Rune in a closely contested match. Griekspoor's 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 triumph propelled him to the fourth round of an ATP 1000 event for only the second time in his career.
