Forced to stop by his injured right forearm, Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3 and double title holder, was relieved and even surprised to return from injury at the Masters 1000 in Madrid on Friday, a month before Roland-Garros ( 26 May- 9 June).
Before Madrid, Alcaraz was forced to give up Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, his first two meetings of the season on ocher. So much so that the young Spaniard had not 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 got his bearings and seemed particularly lively and inspired for a recovery. In 68 minutes the match was over, quickly, well done, 6-1, 6-2 at the expense of Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (59th).
“We’re back, Madrid,” he beamed to the camera held out to the players at the end of the match.
“I felt very good on the court, I didn’t feel anything in my forearm. It’s something that, although we want to avoid, was in my mind, on every forehand, on every ball that was pressed,” explains Alcaraz.
“I played a very complete match, I surprised myself with the level I played at. But the most important thing was (knowing) how I was going to feel and if I was going to feel something, it wasn’t the case and I’m very happy about that,” he breathes.
Decision made the day before
However, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protégé made the decision to defend his title in the Spanish capital only the day before.
“I trained before Barcelona and took three steps back. Afterwards I spent a week without touching the racket, until Monday in Madrid. I came here not knowing what was going to happen. As if I didn’t feel anything, I gradually started increased the intensity in training, day after day. And yesterday (Thursday) I played a set against Medvedev and I didn’t feel anything at all and I told myself I was ready to play says.
His forehand, the No. 1 weapon in his game and the very shot he failed to hit too well in practice in Monte-Carlo earlier this month, has regained its bite, although Alcaraz must be careful not to send it full. power.
“I hit less hard than usual. It’s unnatural for me, he agrees, but playing with more relaxation also helps me a lot, playing more with sensations and going forward.”
In the third round, the double Grand Slam winner (US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023) and former world number 1 will meet Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild (63rd).
Should he triumph on the Spanish clay on May 5 – the day he turns 21 – Alcaraz would become the first player to win the Masters 1000 in Madrid three times in a row.
Sabalenka pushed
It is the turn of world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, the man in good form during the first part of the season, to enter the match on Saturday, against his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego (52nd). World No. 5 Alexander Zverev (6-3, 6-2 vs. Coric) and No. 11 Holger Rune (5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 vs. Navone) won theirs on Friday night.
Ugo Humbert, the French No. 1 who is no longer so far from the top 10, achieved his success in the unusual coolness of Madrid, 6-3, 6-3 in 79 minutes against Dutchman Botic de Zandschulp, just kicked out of the top 100 .
End of course on the other side for the two hopes of French tennis, Arthur Fils (32nd) and Luca Van Assche (99th). Sick, the first was extinguished by the German Daniel Altmaier (61.) 6-2, 6-3. The other gave Argentine Sebastien Baez (19th) a hard time for almost three hours, but ended up losing 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.
In a tournament she has won twice, Aryna Sabalenka had a difficult first step: the world No. 2 and defending champion needed more than two hours and three sets to dismiss Poland’s Magda Linette (48th) 6-4, 3-6 , 6-3.
title in Stuttgart on Sunday by defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, world No. 4. Elena Rybakina continued her dominance, beating Italian Lucia Bronzetti (46) 6-4, 6-3.
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