Alcaraz wins 9 games in a row, beats Thiago Wild and advances to the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Madrid

The Brazilian Thiago Wild even tried, but ended up being eliminated in the third round of the Masters 1000 in Madrid after losing, this Sunday, to the number 3 in the world, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, by 2 sets to 0, with a double 6/3, in 1h15min departure, on the Manolo Santana central court.

“I think I played at a very good level. I arrived for this match a little nervous, I didn’t know how my body would behave. Thiago hits the ball very hard and that worried me. I’m very happy with my performance. It was difficult in the end, difficult dealing with nervousness. It’s been a while since I felt that kind of nervousness. I’m very happy to win in the end and have another chance in the next round,” said Alcaraz.

This was the Brazilian’s fifth match against a Top 10 athlete and his fourth defeat. The country has not had a tennis player in the round of 16 of a 1000-level tournament since Thomaz Bellucci at the Masters 1000 in Rome in 2016.

Carlos Alcaraz continues his quest for a third consecutive Madrid Masters 1000 championship. On Spanish territory, it is the 23rd consecutive victory for the athlete, who was also champion of the ATP 500 in Barcelona last season. In the round of 16, he will meet German Jan-Lennard Struff, who beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert by 2 sets to 0, partials of 7/5 and 6/4. They made the 2023 final of the tournament.

With the exception of the first game, where Wild had to save a break point, the first set was extremely balanced with the tennis players confirming their serve without any major problems. It was in the final stretch that Alcaraz showed his potential. The Spaniard caused two breaks and confirmed the victory 6/3, after the game was tied 3/3.

Alcaraz went on to win nine consecutive games and took a 5/0 lead in the second set with extreme ease. Although the Spaniard practically declared victory, Wild showed signs of recovery, caused the first break in the Spaniard and reduced it to 5/3. However, the world number 3 closed the ninth game to confirm his place in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Madrid.

Also this Saturday, the Danish Holger Rune ended up being eliminated after losing to the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor by 2 sets to 1, partials of 6/4, 4/6 and 6/3. Andrey Rublev beat Spaniard Davidovich Fokina 2-0, 7/6 (12/10) and 6/4.