Tennis, Masters in Madrid: Zverev without a chance against Alcaraz

Alexander Zverev clearly lost in two sets against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16 of the Masters tournament in Madrid on Tuesday (02.05.23).

In the end it was 1: 6 and 2: 6 from Zverev’s point of view. Last year, Zverev lost the final against the 19-year-old at the tournament. The German number one is still waiting for success against a world-class opponent this year and has to level up with a view to the French Open (from May 28th) further increase.

Zverev frustrated: “He makes everything better”

“I’m still a long way from beating him, you could see that today“Said a visibly frustrated Zverev after the 1: 6, 2: 6 defeat at “Sky” and added: “He’s doing everything better than I am at the moment.“

Alcaraz made short work of Zverev in 83 minutes – and was extremely satisfied afterwards. “It’s wonderful to play the way I played today, I feel really good“said the 19-year-old, who will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals.

For Zverev it was the first meeting with world number two Alcaraz after his serious ankle injury from the semifinals in Paris 2022 against Rafael Nadal. Back then, he had previously landed a win against Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, whose development has continued upwards since then.

Altmaier without much resistance, Struff with crime

Daniel Altmaier had previously defeated the ailing Spaniard Jaume Munar 6: 3, 6: 0 in 85 minutes and reached the quarterfinals for the first time in a Masters 1000 event. In the round of the top eight, the 24-year-old now meets Croatian Borna Coric. Coric beat the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a hard-fought match 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5).

Shortly before midnight, Struff prevailed in three contested sets 7: 6 (9: 7), 6: 7 (7: 9), 6: 3 against Argentinian Pedro Cachin.

I remember back problems, Altmaier continues without losing a sentence

In the first set of his round of 16 game, Altmaier took the serve early from his opponent to make it 2-1. Munar was plagued by back problems and sought treatment. At times, Altmaier managed to win ten points in a row. Munar fought and didn’t give up, but couldn’t keep up. Altmaier used his second match point. “It’s unbelievable to be in the quarter-finals now, actually I was already out”, he said on “Sky”.

The world number 92. had actually failed in qualifying at the clay court event. However, he benefited from the cancellation of the seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta, subsequently moved into the main draw and thereby directly into the second round. Even in the duels with the other Germans Oscar Otte and Yannick Hanfmann, he did not drop a sentence.