Madrid (Spain) – Champion in the last two editions of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the competition surrounded by doubts, after withdrawing at the last minute from the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo and the ATP 500 in Barcelona. The home tennis player was positive after his first training sessions at Caixa Mágica, but he knows he will have a lot of work ahead of him.
“I’m physically better and emotionally very well,” Alcaraz said before the tournament. “But I don’t want to say anything because I said I was going to play in Barcelona and in the end it wasn’t possible. I’ve already trained in Madrid, I felt good feelings and I think we’re on the right path. Judging by these feelings, I think I can be in the tournament”, said the world number 3.
The history of victories in the competition does not encourage Alcaraz so much, mainly because they have not been able to play much this season. “I arrive without rhythm and without matches on clay, but playing in Madrid gives me positive energy, playing in front of my friends and my people. I’ve been coming to this tournament since I was five years old. Playing it is extra motivation for me,” he commented.
The debut of the number 2 seed, who enters directly into the second round, will be against the winner of the match between Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko and Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who could cross paths with Thiago Wild from Paraná in a possible third round.
Even less likely is a duel with compatriot Rafael Nadal, since the two Spaniards are not going through their best phases and can only meet in a possible final. Still, Alcaraz spoke about the possibility of facing the former world number 1 and owner of 22 Grand Slam titles.
“It’s always special to play with Rafa. In Madrid we played twice and it’s a pleasure to share the court with him. Maybe we’ll see you in the final. Nothing is impossible and anything can happen. I would be very excited”, said the young Spaniard, who lost to Rafa in the Spanish capital in 2021 and got revenge the following year, when they also dueled in Indian Wells, where the left-hander from Mallorca came out on top.
