Madrid (Spain) – Current two-time champion of the Madrid Masters 1000, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz met his first opponent this Wednesday in this year’s edition of the competition. Debuting directly in the second round, the number 2 seed will face Kazakh Shevchenko, who defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in three sets, with partials of 6/4, 5/7 and 6/3, in 2h17 of play.
It will be the first time that the 23-year-old Kazakh and current 59th in the world will challenge Alcaraz on the professional circuit. Shevchenko lost all three of his duels against top 5, including in Madrid, last year, against Russian Daniil Medvedev. He has a record of seven defeats in nine games against rivals from the top 10 and has the advantage against the Spanish (9 to 4).
Facing Rinderknech for the first time, in a very balanced duel, Shevchenko had just one more winning ball (25 to 24) and made two fewer unforced errors (14 to 16). The serving performance of the two was also very close, with the Kazakh winning 69% of the points played against 67% for the Frenchman.
Monfils doesn’t make it past debut
The experienced Frenchman Gael Monfils was unable to make it through his debut at Caixa Mágica and ended up eliminated in straight sets by the rising Italian Luciano Darderi, who spent 78 minutes to triumph with scores of 6/4 and 6/2. The next rival of the 22-year-old Italian and current 60th in the world will be the North American Taylor Fritz, seeded 12th.
In turn, the young Frenchman Arthur Fils, 31st favorite, met his first obstacle in the competition. Debuting directly in the second round, he will face German Daniel Altmaier, who left home guest Martin Landaluce, just 18 years old, against whom he scored a final score of 6/1 and 7/5, after 1h34 of confrontation.
Munar wins and challenges current vice-president
If it didn’t work for the young tennis player of the house, Landaluce, the same didn’t happen with Jaume Munar, who managed to get through his debut, defeating the Portuguese Nuno Borges in straight sets, with partials of 7/5 and 6/2. In the second round, he will face German Jan-Lennard Struff, seeded 23rd, who defends his runner-up finish achieved last year.
Another who met his debut rival was the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, 24th pre-classified, who will open his campaign against the Japanese Taro Daniel, responsible for eliminating the Australian Aleksandar Vukic in the first round in a battle of three sets and 2h21 duration, closing the game with partials of 6/2, 6/7 (1-7) and 6/1.
