Madrid (Spain) – In the rerun of the 2023 final of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz once again got the better of German Jan-Lennard Struff. Just like last year, the number 2 seed needed three sets to assert favoritism, scoring partials of 6/3, 6/7 (5-7) and 7/6 (7-4), after 2h52 of confrontation, to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Champion in the last two years, Alcaraz is trying to become the first three-time champion in a row at Caixa Mágica. His victory this Tuesday was the 14th in a row in the competition, equaling the mark of compatriot Rafael Nadal, who between 2013 and 2015 also won 14 consecutive matches in Madrid. The world number 3 can isolate himself with the record if he wins one more.
To achieve his 15th victory in a row, the young Spaniard will have to overcome Russian Andrey Rublev, seventh favorite, who earlier got the better of Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor with a 2 sets to 0 victory, scoring a final score of 6/2 and 6/4. It will be the second time they have met and Alcaraz won the only duel, last year in the group stage of the ATP Finals.
Alcaraz’s great winning streak is not just in the Spanish capital, but playing on clay within Spain, where he has accumulated 24 consecutive victories. He has not lost at home on clay since 2021, when he was beaten by Nadal in the second round of Madrid.
Very firm start from Alcaraz
In the first set, Alcaraz showed great consistency, managing to score more winning balls than his German rival (12 to 8) and also making fewer unforced errors (9 to 11). He was also firm when under pressure and saved the three break points he faced, managing to convert one of the three break chances he had in his favor, which was enough to make him 1-0 up.
The Spaniard was the first to have a chance to break, but Struff saved himself in the second game. Then, it was Alcaraz’s turn to avoid three break-points. In the sixth came the break that defined the partial, with the home tennis player gaining the advantage and then just managing it until the end.
Struff wins a set and saves match points
Alcaraz started with everything in the second set, scored a break right away, won the first two games and looked like he could take off, but the German didn’t let up and returned the break in the fourth game. After that, the servers prevailed until the end, there were no more chances and the decision went to a tiebreak. Struff started behind, but raised the level and tied the game with an ace.
After failing to close the game in straight sets, the 2nd seed had everything to close the third without any scares, he got a break in the fourth game and served at 5/3 to advance, but then he let four match-points slip and was broken back. Alcaraz once again faced a break against serving at 5/5, but saved himself and led to another tiebreak.
Shock at the end and Spanish victory
Although he started well in the final tiebreaker, winning the first three points, with two mini-breaks of advantage, the home tennis player played poorly and lost the next four points. Still, the Spaniard kept his nerves in place, and now it was he who won four points in a row, two on Struff’s serve, to finally seal a hard-fought victory.
Alcaraz was rewarded for his greater consistency throughout the match, achieving more winning balls (37 to 31) and fewer unforced errors (24 to 31) than his German opponent. Both had a 63% success rate at the net and the Spaniard had the worst service success, with 63% against Struff’s 64%.
