Madrid Open | Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev eliminated in round of 16

(Madrid) Despite an impressive start to the season, Daniil Medvedev suffered an upset on Tuesday, losing to Aslan Karatsev in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.

Karatsev, 121^e in the world rankings and coming from qualifying, was dominant in a 7-6(1), 6-4 win over second-seeded Medvedev. He thus won a first match since 2021 against a member of the world’s top 10.

Prior to this encounter, Medvedev topped the ATP with a 33-4 record in 2023. Karatsev, who is 29, has previously held the 14^e world rank and has three titles to his name, the last of which was acquired in Sydney in 2022.

“I feel good and I’m playing well,” Karatsev said. I’m concentrating on the game ahead of me, so I’m preparing for the next one. »

In the quarter-finals, Karatsev will face either Taylor Fritz or Zhang Zhizhen.

For his part, Karen Khachanov also reached the quarter-finals thanks to a victory against his good friend and playing partner in doubles Andrey Rublev.

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 the world’s fifth racket, Khachanov won his first match on clay against a member of the world’s top 10 since 2019.

“It’s never easy when we play against each other because we know each other so well,” said Khachanov, 12^e 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 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.

“The tiebreaker [à Madrid] was crucial, Khachanov stressed. 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 the winner of the duel between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the 13^e seeded Alexander Zverev. That game was slated for later Tuesday.

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.

Sabalenka first semi-finalist

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka is the first to qualify for the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid after her victory against the Egyptian Mayar Sherif (59^e) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 Tuesday.

Sabalenka, crowned for the first time in Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January and finalist on clay in Stuttgart (Germany) ten days ago, will face either the Greek Maria Sakkari (9^e), or the Romanian Irina-Camélia Begu (35^e) Thursday for a place in the final.

Confused in the first set by the disconcerting game of Sherif, for the first time in the quarter-finals in a tournament of this category, and who does not hesitate to multiply the (very) high balls, the 24-year-old Belarusian struggled, successfully, to find her rhythm in the next two rounds. She won in two hours flat.

“I just tried to keep fighting, playing my game, finding my rhythm. It was very difficult. I am very happy with this victory,” she explained.

Sabalenka has reached at least the quarter-finals in the seven tournaments (including Madrid) she has played in 2023.