(Madrid) Carlos Alcaraz, world No.3 and double title holder, reassured his return from injury, beating Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (59e) 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Madrid on Friday, one month before Roland-Garros (May 26–June 9).
Before Madrid, Alcaraz was forced by his injured right forearm (compression of the median nerve) to withdraw from Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, where he was also a double holder of the trophy. So much so that he hadn’t played for a month (loss in the quarter-finals in Miami, against Dimitrov).
In the Madrid Caja Magica which was so successful for him, “Carlitos”, even with a protective sleeve on his right arm, immediately regained his bearings and appeared particularly lively and inspired for a cover. In 68 minutes, the game was completed, quickly, well done.
“We’re back, Madrid,” he rejoiced on the camera held out to the players at the end of the match.
His forehand, the No. 1 weapon of his game and precisely the shot he was unable to hit in training in Monte-Carlo at the beginning of the month, seems to have regained its bite.
Three days ago, during his pre-tournament press conference, Alcaraz did not want to say 100% that he would play well in the Spanish capital. “But if my feelings are confirmed, I will probably enter the court,” he had considered.
In the third round, the double Grand Slam winner (US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023) and former world No.1 will face the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild (63e).
If he were to triumph on Spanish clay on May 5 –– the day he turns 21 – Alcaraz would become the first to win the Masters 1000 in Madrid three times in a row.