(Madrid) The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world No.2 and holder of the trophy, offered himself a new final at the Masters 1000 in Madrid by dominating the Croatian Borna Coric (20e) 6-4, 6-3 on his 20th birthday on Friday.
In the final on Sunday, Alcaraz will in any case face a surprise guest: either the German Jan-Lennard Struff (65e), or the Russian Aslan Karatsev (121e). Both will play against each other for the second time in the Madrid tournament, since the second had beaten the first in the last qualifying round, finally drafted after a last-minute withdrawal.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protege, injured for the Australian Open and who only started his season in February, will already be aiming for his fourth title in 2023, after Buenos Aires, Indian Wells and Barcelona.
On clay, he just got his 18e win of the year in 19 games played. Promising three weeks from Roland-Garros (May 28-June 11).
If he retains the title in Madrid, Alcaraz will only have to play a match in Rome the following week to then reinstall himself on the throne of world No.1 at the expense of Novak Djokovic.
Last September, “Carlitos” became the youngest world No.1 in history following his first Grand Slam title at the United States Open.