Preview: Alcaraz & Rublev Continue Title Quests In Madrid | ATP Tour

Third-round motion begins on Sunday on the Mutua Madrid Open, the place Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune proceed their title quests on the ATP Masters 1000 clay-court occasion.

Karen Khachanov, Hubert Hurkacz and Alexander Zverev additionally play on a day when seeded stars conflict for the primary time at this 12 months’s occasion. ATPTour.com appears to be like at a few of the key third-round matchups on show in the Spanish capital on Sunday throughout the men’s singles draw and men’s doubles draw.

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [26] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

Alcaraz triumphed in Madrid final 12 months, defeating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev en path to the crown. Twelve months on and the 19-year-old overcame a troublesome opening check in opposition to Emil Ruusuvuori on Friday to set a second assembly in opposition to former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov.

Alcaraz, who will increase his World No. 1 hopes if he defends his title within the Spanish capital, is in search of his fourth tour-level title of the season in Madrid. The house favorite will concentrate on the risk Dimitrov holds as he chases his seventeenth consecutive win at Spanish ATP Tour occasions.

The Bulgarian is likely one of the cleanest ballstrikers on the Tour and rapidly discovered his rhythm in opposition to Gregoire Barrere in his opening spherical to enhance to 11-7 on the season. But with Alcaraz backed by house help and possessing an array of weapons, Dimitrov will have to be at his greatest if he’s to upset the Spaniard and earn his second Prime 10 win of the season.

[5] Andrey Rublev vs. [28] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)

Rublev has made a red-hot begin to the clay swing, successful his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo earlier than advancing to the ultimate in Banja Luka. The fifth seed made a successful begin in Madrid, downing former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in straight units to enhance to 9-1 on the floor in 2023.

Rublev’s third-round opponent Nishioka may trigger him issues, although. The Japanese star leads Rublev 2-1 of their ATP Head2Head sequence, having defeated him of their earlier assembly in Washington final 12 months. The twenty eighth seed moved previous Alex Molcan in his opening match to earn his first ATP Masters 1000 win of the season and can be aiming to recapture the shape that noticed him advance to the fourth spherical at January’s Australian Open.

Having superior to the quarter-finals in Madrid final season, Rublev can be hoping his big-hitting sport can be an excessive amount of for Nishioka once they meet on Sunday.

[6] Holger Rune (DEN) vs. [29] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Holger Rune survived a significant scare in his opening match on the Caja Magica. He saved one match level to defeat Alexander Bublik on his Madrid debut, enhancing to 9-1 on clay this 12 months. The 19-year-old, who this month superior to the ultimate in Monte-Carlo and lifted his fourth tour-level trophy in Munich, will look to proceed his red-hot type when he takes on Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of their first tour-level assembly.

The house favorite Davidovich Fokina eased previous Albert Ramos-Vinolas to succeed in the third spherical in Madrid for the primary time. The 23-year-old loved a run to the quarter-finals in Barcelona final week and can be in search of his first Prime 10 win of the season when he takes on World No. 7 Rune.

Additionally In Motion

Zverev holds fond recollections in Madrid, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2021 earlier than he superior to the ultimate final 12 months. The German will look to enhance to 21-3 on the ATP Masters 1000 when he takes on Frenchman Hugo Grenier.

Miami semi-finalist Karen Khachanov meets Roberto Bautista Agut and can goal to start out turning the tables within the pair’s ATP Head2Head rivalry, which the Spaniard leads 6-2. Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi upset Casper Ruud and can look to proceed his run in opposition to Spaniard Jaume Munar.

In doubles motion, Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will tackle sixth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara, whereas Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe meet Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer.