Madrid Open: Rafael Nadal cruises previous Spanish teenage sensation
In a much-anticipated battle of generations, Rafael Nadal confirmed he’s nonetheless clearly the person to beat in Spanish tennis, cruising to a 6-1, 6-2 win over teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz within the second spherical of the Madrid Open on Wednesday.
Nadal, in search of his sixth title in Madrid and seeking to regain high kind forward of the French Open, was by no means threatened by Alcaraz, who turned 18 on Wednesday.
The One hundred and twentieth-ranked Alcaraz was coming off his first victory at a Masters 1000 occasion and had known as the match in opposition to his idol a “dream come true.” He has been touted by many because the successor to the 34-year-old Nadal.
After the gang on the “Magic Box” centre courtroom sang “Happy Birthday” to him, Alcaraz squandered a break level within the first recreation after which struggled to maintain up with the 20-time Grand Slam champion. The wild-card entry was marred by unforced errors, incomes his lone break towards the top of the second set.
¡impresionante debut! 🔝
🇪🇸 @RafaelNadal supera en su estreno en el #MMOPEN a 🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz por 6-1, 6-2. pic.twitter.com/9jrWd6YTiU
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 5, 2021
Alcaraz wanted medical consideration within the third recreation after dropping an extended rally, apparently hurting his arm or shoulder whereas going for an overhead smash.
The two Spaniards had by no means performed a match in opposition to one another however practiced collectively on the Australian Open, when Alcaraz reached the second spherical.
“It was a difficult match against a youngster who has been playing very well and who has an enormous potential ahead of him,” Nadal stated on Wednesday. “All he needs is some time. In addition to being a great tennis player, he also has great values, which is something society needs right now.”
After the match, match director Feliciano Lopez, who misplaced to Alcaraz within the Andalucia Open final month, introduced out a birthday cake, and Nadal additionally joined the celebration.
Earlier, second-seeded Daniil Medvedev broke his six-match tour-level dropping streak on clay with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The third-ranked Medvedev hadn’t performed since March on the Miami Open. He will subsequent face Chilean Cristian Garin, who defeated Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 6-4.
Alexander Zverev, the 2018 Madrid champion, comfortably defeated 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2.
“Kei is someone who has done well here, reaching the final and he has beaten me on clay before,” Zverev stated. “I’m definitely happy with this performance.”
The fifth-seeded German has reached the Madrid quarterfinals or higher in his final three appearances within the Spanish capital. He will subsequent face Daniel Evans, who defeated John Millman 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3.
Seventh-seeded Diego Schwartzman misplaced 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Aslan Karatsev.
In the ladies’s draw, Paula Badosa defeated Belinda Bencic 6-4, 7-5 to change into the primary Spanish girl to achieve the semifinals in Madrid. She will face top-ranked Ashleigh Barty, who received previous Petra Kvitova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
