On Sunday, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secured a spot in the Madrid Open’s last 16, clinching a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Thiago Seyboth Wild. Despite a recent forearm ailment that sidelined him for a month, Alcaraz showed no signs of discomfort, indicating his satisfaction with his performance. Facing the challenge, he stated, “Today was the fire test; no discomfort, a spectacular feeling… from here we will be better.”
The second-seeded Alcaraz kicked off his campaign at this year’s tournament with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Alexander Shevchenko, marking an impressive debut.
In another important match, Alexander Zverev defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, while Andrey Rublev mounted a dramatic comeback against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, winning 7-6 (12/10), 6-4 after falling behind 5-0 in the first-set tiebreak.
In the women’s category, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Robin Montgomery 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 after a gruelling two-and-a-half-hour battle. Sabalenka noticed Montgomery’s outstanding performance and praised her opponent’s tennis prowess.
Elena Rybakina secured an effortless 6-1, 6-4 win against Mayar Sherif, advancing to face teenager Sara Bejlek in the last 16. Additionally, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva impressed with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, dominating the second set with a 25-9 point advantage.
