Zhang Zhichen made history already in Monday’s third round, in which he defeated 11th-seeded Cameron Norrie from Britain 2:6, 7:6, 7:6 and became the first Chinese to advance to the round of 16 at the Masters.
Last October, Zhang Zhichen became the first Chinese to enter the top 100 rankings, and thanks to progressing to the quarterfinals in Madrid, he should move from the current 99th position to 66th place, thereby improving his personal best.
The twenty-nine-year-old Karatsev defeated the favored compatriot in one and a half hours and defeated him for the fourth time in the fifth duel.
The ranked favorite did not even win today’s second Russian duel. Karen Khačanov advanced to the quarterfinals over his friend and doubles partner Andrei Rublyov, defeating the world number six 7:6, 6:4.
His opponent in the quarterfinals will be the defending champion from Spain, Carlos Alcaraz, who so far is going through the tournament without any major problems. In the round of 16, the second player in the world defeated Alexander Zverev from Germany 6:1 and 6:2 in a repeat of last year’s final.
Alcaraz, who will celebrate his twentieth birthday on Friday, will face Chačanov for the third time on the ATP circuit. Last year, he met his Russian opponent on clay in Hamburg and at Roland Garros and did not lose a set.
With the win over Zverev, Alcaraz improved this year’s balance on clay to 16 wins and only one defeat. In addition, he can win his second title in a row, as he defended without losing a set at the tournament in Barcelona in April.
The first semi-finalist in the women’s singles is the second-seeded Aryna Sabalenková. Although the Belarusian favorite lost the first set 2:6 with the Egyptian Majar Šarífová in today’s quarterfinals, she won the next sets 6:2 and 6:1.
| MADRID (antuka) |
|---|
| Men (subsidy 7,705,780 euros) |
| Singles – 4th round: |
| Karatsev (Russia) – Medvedev (2-Russia) 7:6 (7:1), 6:4 |
| Khachanov (10-Russia) – Rublyov (5-Russia) 7:6 (10:8), 6:4 |
| Altmaier (Germany) – Munar (Spain) 6:3, 6:0 |
| Alcaraz (1-Spain) – Zverev (13-Germany) 6:1, 6:2 |
| Čoric (19-Croatia) – Davidovich (29-Sp.) 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 7:6 (7:5) |
| Zhang Chen (China) – Fritz (8-USA) 3:6, 7:6 (7:5), 7:6 (10:8) |
| Struff (German) – Cachín (Arg.) 7:6 (9:7), 6:7 (7:9), 6:3 |
| Tsitsipas (4-Greece) – Zapata (Sp.) 6:3, 6:1 |
| Women (subsidy 7,705,780 euros) |
| Singles – Quarter Finals: |
| Sabalenková (2-Bel.) – Šarífová (Eg.) 2:6, 6:2, 6:1 |
| Sakkariová (9-Greek) – Beguová (31-Romanian) 6:7 (3:7), 6:4, 6:2. |
| Praha (Antuka) |
|---|
| Men (challenger category, subsidy 73 thousand euros) |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| SVRCINA (CZE) – JM Cerúndolo (3-Arg.) 6:3, 6:1 |
| MACHÁČ (6-CR) – Llamas (Sp.) 6:1, 6:1 |
| KOPŘIVA (CZE) – Sačko (Ukraine) 5:7, 7:5, 6:2 |
| KOLÁŘ (CZE) – Bellier (Switzerland) 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:5) |
| Women (ITF category, $60,000 subsidy) |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| BARTŮŇKOVÁ (CZE) – McPheeová (Aust.) 6:4, 4:6, 6:2 |
| VALENTOVA (CZE) – Sekulicová (Germany) 7:6 (7:2), 1:6, 6:3 |
| Seeded (8-Lot.) – HAVLÍČKOVÁ (CZE) 4:6, 6:0, 6:4 |
| Thandiová (India) – ŠEBESTOVA (Czech Republic) 6:0, 6:3 |
