From the editorial staff
La Jornada Newspaper
Thursday, May 2, 2024, p. a10
This season is not being easy for Carlos Alcaraz, who is still far from the level that led him to be one of the tennis figures in recent years. His attempt to achieve a third consecutive title in the Masters of Madrid came to an end when they fell in the quarterfinals against Andrey Rublev.
Since it debuted in Magic Box In 2021, the Spaniard had only lost once: precisely that year and against Rafael Nadal. From then on he only knew of joys, keeping the title in the following two years. Until yesterday.
To number three of ranking World Cup he looked uncomfortable, surpassed in what had been his fiefdom in the previous 14 games. The two-time champion handed over his crown and hopes to be ready for Roland Garros, which begins on May 20.
The long and intense match against Struff took its toll on me, because it had been a while since I had competed at that level, Alcaraz commented. I also have a cold, but the main thing is that I have been much weaker mentally than normal.
The defeat leaves him in a difficult situation, since during the year he has suffered with injuries that have prevented him from having regularity in the first half of the season. Alcaraz has played six tournaments so far in 2024 and has only managed to lift one title; that of Indian Wells.
▲ Carlos Alcaraz is far from the level that took him to the forefront of tennis. Photo AFP
It hurts to lose, it hurts to have options and not take advantage of them. It had been a long time since I had such a demanding game and today (yesterday) I woke up with pains all over my body. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play when I arrived and I advanced to the quarterfinals, that’s the positive, said the Spaniard.
Carlos had won his last 24 matches counting Barcelona and Madrid and had the possibility of breaking Nadal’s mark with a fifteenth victory that did not come.
Sinner gives himself away
The Italian Jannik Sinner, number two in the world, announced his withdrawal from the Madrid tournament in the run-up to his duel against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. It is very sad to have to withdraw from my next match here in Madrid. My hip has been bothering me and little by little it has been hurting more. Following the advice of the doctors, we decided that the best thing was not to play anymore and avoid making things worse, he announced on social networks.
In the women’s division, defending champion Aryna Sabalen-ka defeated teenager Mirra Andreeva and advanced to the semifinals.
2024-05-02 11:00:18
#Alcaraz #goodbye #Madrid #falls #Rublev
