Tennis News

Alcaraz On ‘Dream’ Nadal Clash: ‘It’s The Best Birthday Present’

#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz made sure that his birthday bash will be one for the ages.

The teenager will turn 18 on Wednesday, and he will celebrate with a second-round meeting against Spanish legend and top seed Rafael Nadal at the Mutua Madrid Open.

“It’s the best present for my birthday,” Alcaraz told Tennis Channel, cracking a laugh. “It’s a dream come true. To play against Rafa here in Madrid in front of the Spanish crowd, I will never forget this moment and I will learn from him.”

“I don’t know how to describe this feeling now,” he added. “It’s a dream come true.”

In order to book the blockbuster clash against his childhood idol, Alcaraz had to go through Adrian Mannarino, a player sitting 86 spots higher in the FedEx ATP Rankings at No. 34. But Alcaraz got the job done in convincing style, blasting 19 forehand winners en route to a 6-4, 6-0 victory.

“They always say the 18th birthday is special, but it will be even more special to turn 18 playing against one of the best tennis players of all time, and the best for me,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “Rafa is one of my childhood idols. It’s going to be very special.”

With his first ATP Masters 1000 victory, Alcaraz checked off a new milestone in a season full of firsts. He began 2021 by qualifying for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, where he claimed a victory in his main draw debut after impressing at the end of last season with back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles.

Alcaraz’s rapid rise has drawn comparisons to Nadal’s own ATP breakthrough as a teenager. In fact, the 17-year-old just became the youngest match winner in tournament history in Madrid – passing 18-year-old Nadal’s record in 2004.

“There will be many comparisons. I’m sure they’ll talk about me and Rafa. They will compare the new generation with the legend,” Alcaraz said. “But I’ll try to give my best. I have to play my game, try to keep improving and enjoy it. I’ll stick with my feelings on court. I’ll be nervous, but I’ll try to play as relaxed as possible and give my absolute best.”

Alcaraz will aim to keep his nerves in check as he takes on Nadal inside Manolo Santana Stadium on Wednesday. The top seed will be going for his sixth Mutua Madrid Open title and arrived in the Spanish capital after winning his 87th tour-level title in Barcelona.

“I’m working to manage the nerves. In the difficult moments I try to be aggressive and play my style,” Alcaraz said. “I’m improving step by step and these kinds of matches are helping me a lot to grow. I’ll use each difficult moment that arises in matches to keep improving.”

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Alcaraz Sets Nadal Clash In Madrid

Carlos Alcaraz booked a dream Mutua Madrid Open second-round encounter against five-time champion Rafael Nadal on Monday.

The #NextGenATP Spaniard, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on Wednesday, ripped 19 forehand winners en route to a 6-4, 6-0 win against Adrian Mannarino. This is Alcaraz’s maiden ATP Masters 1000 victory in just his second event at the level. The 17-year-old made his Masters 1000 debut at the Miami Open presented by Itau in March (l. to Ruusuvuori).

The World No. 120 will meet Nadal for the first time in the second round. However, the pair has already shared some court time together this year. Alcaraz and Nadal met for a practice session ahead of this year’s Australian Open.

Nadal & Alcaraz’s first practice together ?

Hopefully the first of many! ?

?: @alcarazcarlos03 (IG) | @RafaelNadal | #NextGenATP pic.twitter.com/5VK8PoPBW6

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 6, 2021

Backed by a reduced home crowd inside Manolo Santana Stadium, Alcaraz rushed Mannarino in the early stages with depth on his groundstrokes and fired multiple forehand winners to race into a 2-0 lead. The Murcia native maintained his lead to serve for the first set at 5-4 and he converted his first set point with a crosscourt backhand winner.

Alcaraz breezed through the second set to book his encounter against Nadal. The Spaniard continued to dictate rallies with aggressive forehands and showed great touch at the net to improve to 7-7 this season.

Fabio Fognini booked a second-round clash against countryman Matteo Berrettini on Monday. The 33-year-old overcame Spanish qualifier Carlos Taberner 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 in two hours and 15 minutes.

Fognini and Berrettini, who helped Italy reach the ATP Cup final in February (l. to Russia), will meet for the second time in their ATP Head2Head series. Fognini won the pair’s maiden encounter in straight sets at the 2017 Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

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Madrid Open: Dan Evans beats Jeremy Chardy to reach second round

British number one Dan Evans beats Jeremy Chardy in three sets for a first win at the Madrid Open.

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Melo/Rojer Eliminate Murray/Soares In Madrid

Marcelo Melo and Jean-Julien Rojer eliminated eighth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares 6-3, 6-4 on Monday in their opening match at the Mutua Madrid Open.

The unseeded pair, which entered the tournament with a 1-8 team record, saved all seven break points it faced to eliminate the Great Ocean Road Open champions in 70 minutes. Melo and Rojer are both aiming to add to their Madrid trophy collections, having both lifted the trophy with previous partners.

Melo did not drop a set en route to the Madrid trophy in 2017 alongside Lukasz Kubot. Rojer is a two-time champion in Madrid, following title runs with Horia Tecau in 2016 and 2019.

Melo and Rojer will meet Millennium Estoril Open champion Tim Puetz and 2018 singles titlist Alexander Zverev or last year’s Rolex Paris Masters winners Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz in the second round.

Later in the day, John Peers and Michael Venus will meet Max Purcell and Luke Saville. Spanish wild cards Marc Lopez and Jaume Munar will also be in action against Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov.

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Harris Wins On Madrid Debut, Overcomes Dimitrov In Tie-break Decider

Lloyd Harris maintained his perfect record in 2021 against Top 20 opponents (4-0) on Monday, when he began his Mutua Madrid Open debut with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory over No. 13 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

The South African failed to convert three match points on Dimitrov’s serve at 5-2 in the deciding set, and was subsequently broken, but won four straight points from 2/3 down in the tie-break.

“It was a big up and down match, [I led by] a set and a break, then [I was] a break up in the third too,” said Harris. “I got a little bit nervous at the end, but I’m happy to close it out. I started to dictate again at the end.”

The 24-year-old Harris, who hit 34 winners past 2015 quarter-finalist Dimitrov, will next challenge Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the second round. “He is a very tough opponent and he doesn’t give you much,” said Harris, who is now 10-6 on the season. “We had an epic match in the past.”

Six weeks ago, Harris qualified for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and beat the likes of Dominic Thiem and Denis Shapovalov en route to the final (l. to Karatsev).

Elsewhere, 2015 and 2018 Madrid quarter-finalist John Isner worked his way past Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-6(6) in 80 minutes. The American saved four break points at 4-4 in the second set and a set point at 5/6 in the tie-break.

Isner, who hit 28 aces past Kecmanovic, will next face ninth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut or qualifier Marco Cecchinato of Italy.

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Karatsev Earns Debut Win In Madrid

Aslan Karatsev opened his debut Mutua Madrid Open campaign on Monday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory against Ugo Humbert.

In his first appearance since his run to the Serbia Open final in Belgrade (l. to Berrettini), the Russian struck 24 winners to reach the second round after one hour and 31 minutes. Karatsev, who entered 2021 with a 3-10 tour-level record, improved to 18-5 this season with his first win in the Spanish capital.

2021 ATP Tour Wins Leaderboard

A single break in each set proved the difference for Karatsev. The Dubai champion neutralised Humbert’s serve with consistent depth on his backhand returns and he turned points in his favour with forehand aggression. Karatsev converted his first match point with an ace out wide to move through to the second round.

Karatsev will meet seventh seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the third round. The 27-year-old overcame Schwartzman in straight sets en route to the Australian Open semi-finals in February.

Daniel Evans earned his third win of the season against Jeremy Chardy on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium. The Monte-Carlo semi-finalist, who held three match points in the second set, withstood 35 forehand winners from his opponent to record a 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 6-2 win after two hours and 46 minutes.

The British No. 1 will face Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz or John Millman in the second round. Evans is tied at 1-1 in his ATP Head2Head rivalry against Hurkacz and has not met Millman at tour-level.

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Ramos-Vinolas Returns To Top 40, Mover Of Week

No. 37 Albert Ramos-Vinolas, +9
The Spaniard captured his third ATP Tour title on Sunday with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Briton Cameron Norrie in the Millennium Estoril Open final. The 33-year-old rises nine places to No. 37 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, marking a return to the Top 40 for the first time since the week of 2 March 2020 (No. 40). Ramos-Vinolas attained a career-high of No. 17 on 8 May 2017.

No. 93 Ilya Ivashka, +14
The Belarusian qualified for the BMW Open in Munich and beat World No. 6 Alexander Zverev en route to the semi-finals (l. to Struff). Ivashka rises 14 spots to No. 93 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. It is the first time the 27-year-old has been in the Top 100 since the week of 11 March 2019 (No. 96).

View Latest FedEx ATP Rankings

Other Notable Top 100 Movers

No. 22 Casper Ruud, +2 (Career High)
No. 31 Nikoloz Basilashvili, +4
No. 40 Jan-Lennard Struff, +4
No. 67 Corentin Moutet, +6 (Career High)
No. 84 Ricardas Berankis, +5
No. 89 Norbert Gombos, +6

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#NextGenATP Cerundolo Reigns In Rome For First Challenger Title

It was one of the biggest Cinderella stories of all time. Sitting outside the Top 300 of the FedEx ATP Rankings and having previously never competed on the ATP Tour, Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo captured the title at the Cordoba Open in February. The 19-year-old had never even reached an ATP Challenger Tour final when he streaked to his maiden tour-level crown on home soil.

This week, Cerundolo added another piece of silverware to his fast-growing trophy haul – his first at the Challenger level. The surging #NextGenATP star prevailed on the clay of Rome to complete the ATP Tour-ATP Challenger title double.

Cerundolo, who is projected to rise to a career-high No. 152 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, is the first player to win on both tours in the same season since 2019. In addition, his victory makes him the youngest Argentine champion on the Challenger circuit in 12 years, when Federico Delbonis won in Manerbio, Italy, in 2009.

2021 Teen Titlists

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Cerundolo in Rome. After not dropping a set in reaching the semi-finals, the Buenos Aires native was forced to rally from a set and a break down against home hope Alessandro Giannessi on Saturday. And on Sunday, he would be tested by another Italian, 18-year-old Flavio Cobolli. Competing in just his fourth Challenger main draw, Cobolli pushed Cerundolo to a deciding set, where he battled back from a break down twice.

The Argentine would eventually cross the finish line 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after one hour and 44 minutes. The final match-up was just the sixth between teenagers on the ATP Challenger Tour since 2007.

With the victory, Cerundolo moves up to fifth in the ATP Race To Milan, as he continues his quest for a debut appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

✅ ATP Tour title
✅ ATP Challenger title@juanmacerundolo is the champion in Rome! The first player to win an @atptour ? and an #ATPChallenger ? in the same season since 2019. pic.twitter.com/kad5SuzJ7V

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 2, 2021

Cerundolo spoke to ATPTour.com following his maiden Challenger title…

Juan Manuel, congrats on winning your first Challenger title. Can you describe your emotions? How does it feel?
I’m too happy. I can’t describe it right now. It’s amazing to win my first Challenger. I’m having a great year, winning my first ATP title and now my first Challenger. I just can’t believe it. It’s inspiring for sure. I’m motivated to work even harder.

Winning at this level is never easy. Were you nervous today?
Yes, of course, it was my first Challenger final. I really wanted to win, but I knew Flavio was having a great week. It was a great week for me too, so I was nervous but had a lot of confidence to win.

You were down a set and a break yesterday. Where does your mental strength come from? Do you surprise yourself in those moments?
Well, yesterday was a very tough match. I really don’t know where my mental strength comes from. I just try to take it step-by-step and point-by-point. I am so patient and don’t rush, so I think that is the key to these matches.

After a big week on the ATP Tour, it is not easy to return to the Challengers. Describe that transition for you, after Cordoba.
Cordoba was an amazing week. I’m not used to playing ATPs, but I also haven’t been playing many Challengers. This is all new to me, but I feel I am doing a good job and hope to play even more ATPs in the future. That will give me a better ranking and make a big difference.

Photo credit: Delfina Novillo

When you look back on Cordoba, what is the biggest lesson you learned from that week?
The biggest thing I learned was to keep working hard to get back to that level. And trusting in my team. I need to still work like this every day, because one tournament does not make a career.

You are the youngest champion from Argentina since 2009. How do you manage the pressure and expectations?
It’s not easy, but I think I like it. It’s good to feel like people trust you and have confidence in you. It’s motivating and inspiring and I do like it.

More 2021 #NextGenATP First-Time Winners: Baez | Brooksby | Gimeno Valero | Stricker

You and your brother Francisco both won Challenger titles in the past year. How do you support each other? Describe his impact on you.
He’s my big brother and it’s amazing that we can share the tour together. We have great moments and he supports and helps me with all these things I don’t know yet. I never played these big matches before and he did, so it’s nice to have that. I can learn a lot from him and we support each other in the matches. We both want to win.

Another player from Argentina, Sebastian Baez, is also having a great year. Do you motivate and inspire each other?
Yes, of course, Sebastian is a very good friend on the tour. I talk a lot with him and share some good moments together. We talk a lot during the year and push each other to do even better. We train together at home too. I want him to win too because he’s my friend. It’s a good relation.

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Preview: Alcaraz Tries To Set Nadal Showdown In Madrid

#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz was only two years old when Rafael Nadal won his first Madrid title in 2005. Now, the 17-year-old is one win away from taking on the Spanish great himself on home soil at the Mutua Madrid Open.

But the wild card knows that he has to focus on the match in front of him to get there. Alcaraz will face Adrian Mannarino on Monday inside Manolo Santana Stadium.

“It [would] mean a lot to me to be able to play against Rafa, but I have to win one match against a great player,” Alcaraz said in a pre-tournament interview. “Let’s see what happens and let’s see if I could win.”

The fast-rising teen has competed at this venue several times as a junior, and he’s hoping that home-field advantage will be the key to booking the blockbuster second-round clash.

“I’ve come here to this tournament when I was young for a lot of years,” Alcaraz said. “I saw a lot of matches and a lot of players playing here. And now, playing here and training with the best players in the world means a lot. I will enjoy every moment.”

The Spanish teen arrived in the capital on a high after reaching his first tour-level semi-final in Marbella (l. Munar). It’s been a season of firsts for Alcaraz, who began 2021 by qualifying for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, where he claimed a victory in his main draw debut.

Alcaraz’s early success has drawn plenty of comparisons to Nadal’s own breakthrough as a teen. Nadal has tipped his countryman for even more success, and was generous with praise for Alcaraz’s high level of tennis in a pre-tournament interview.

“Carlos is an amazing player with an amazing level of tennis [already],” Nadal said. “He will probably be one of the greatest players in the world soon.”

Sitting at No. 120 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, Alcaraz would face the biggest challenge of his career should he go on to face World No. 2 Nadal. He’s only played against one Top 10 player to date, falling to No. 7 Alexander Zverev in Acapulco.

But Mannarino is a tough foe himself. The French lefty will be competing in the Mutua Madrid Open main draw for the sixth time, and he has made the second round twice. 

Also in action, unseeded Aslan Karatsev will hope to continue his own fast rise against Ugo Humbert in the opening round. Karatsev reached his first tour-level clay final at the Serbia Open in Belgrade, while Humbert arrived in Madrid after reaching the quarter-finals in Estoril. The winner will take on seventh seed Diego Schwartzman in the second round.

Grigor Dimitrov, the 13th seed, will also feature as he faces Lloyd Harris in the first match of the day at Manolo Santana Stadium. The Bulgarian has advanced to at least the third round at the Caja Magica four times, and he defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at this event in 2013.

The hosts will be well-represented on Monday, with five Spanish men in action including Alcaraz, 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta and wild card Fernando Verdasco. Marbella champion Carreno Busta will take on Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, while former World No. 7 Verdasco will face 16th seed and Santiago champion Cristian Garin.

In doubles, eighth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lead the way as they begin their Madrid campaign against Marcelo Melo and Jean-Julien Rojer. Rojer has previously won two Madrid titles (w/ Tecau) in 2016 and 2019, while Melo lifted the trophy in 2017 (w/ Kubot).

SCHEDULE – MONDAY, MAY 03, 2021
MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM start 11:00 am
L. Harris (RSA) vs [13] G. Dimitrov (BUL)

Not Before 1:00 PM
WTA MATCH – [9] P. Kvitova (CZE) vs V. Kudermetova (RUS)
A. Mannarino (FRA) vs [WC] C. Alcaraz (ESP)

Not Before 7:00 PM
WTA MATCH – [1] A. Barty (AUS) vs [14] I. Swiatek (POL)
[16] C. Garin (CHI) vs [WC] F. Verdasco (ESP)

ARANTXA SANCHEZ STADIUM start 11:00 am
J. Isner (USA) vs M. Kecmanovic (SRB)
J. Chardy (FRA) vs D. Evans (GBR)
[Q] C. Taberner (ESP) vs F. Fognini (ITA)

Not Before 5:00 PM
WTA MATCH – [WC] P. Badosa (ESP) vs [Q] A. Sevastova (LAT)
[Q] F. Delbonis (ARG) vs [10] P. Carreno Busta (ESP)

STADIUM 3 start 11:00 am
U. Humbert (FRA) vs A. Karatsev (RUS)
D. Koepfer (GER) vs R. Opelka (USA)

Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA MATCH – O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [8] B. Bencic (SUI)
[Q] P. Andujar (ESP) vs [Q] M. Giron (USA)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
M. Melo (BRA) / J. Rojer (NED) vs [8] J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA)
J. Peers (AUS) / M. Venus (NZL) vs M. Purcell (AUS) / L. Saville (AUS)
[WC] M. Lopez (ESP) / J. Munar (ESP) vs R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN)

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Medvedev's Madrid Goal: 'At Least Win One Match'

Ahead of the Mutua Madrid Open, Daniil Medvedev outlined his goals for the clay season. But the second seed had his eye on something far more straightforward than lofty targets like a 11th tour-level title or a fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown.

For the second-seeded Russian, as long as he wins one match the trip will be considered a success. After years of going winless in Madrid (0-2), Rome (0-2) and Roland Garros (0-4), Medvedev is eager to get out of the red as he works to translate his world-beating hard-court game onto clay.

“That’s the goal. I always said for me it’s always step by step,” Medvedev said in his pre-tournament press conference. “So the goal actually for all three tournaments, Rome, Roland-Garros, and Madrid, is to at least win one match in each of them.”

Coming from a player who has reached two Grand Slam finals and has been ranked as high as World No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, aiming for one victory might seem a surprising goal. But for Medvedev, keeping things simple might prove the key for a long-awaited clay-court breakthrough.

“Of course, when I come to [a] tournament, the main goal is to win it,” he said. “It’s tougher on clay than on hard courts, so [I] will adjust, try my best, [and] hope to show some good tennis, because that’s the most important. When I show good tennis I can win some great matches.”

There are a few encouraging signs for Medvedev. Most importantly, he’s won ‘some great matches’ on clay already. In 2019, he fought his way into the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals with victories over Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas. That same year, he went on to reach the final in Barcelona (l. Thiem) with a victory over two-time champion Kei Nishikori along the way.

Another positive sign? The conditions couldn’t be better for Medvedev. In Madrid, the altitude (667 metres/2,188 feet) has historically made the courts more forgiving for players like Medvedev who prefer faster surfaces.

“I would say it’s more comparable to hard courts here in Madrid because the clay is fast, altitude, serve goes fast,” Medvedev explained. “In the results and in the game, we can see that guys who suffer a little bit on clay can play better here.

“That’s also one of the things that makes me feel more comfortable before the tournament. After, it’s always the same thing that the first match is a first match.”

Medvedev will have to hit the ground running as he contests his first tournament since the Miami Open presented by Itau due to a positive COVID-19 test ahead of Monte-Carlo. He’ll take on either a qualifier or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match. Davidovich Fokina recently reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final in Monte-Carlo (l. Tsitsipas, walkover) and recorded his first Top 10 win over a resurgent Matteo Berrettini.

“Of course [it] will be a little bit tougher [for me] than other guys,” Medvedev said. “For example, I will be playing maybe Davidovich or [a qualifier]. Davidovich played like five tournaments on clay already. I played zero.

“I definitely need to win some matches to just get this feeling of winning matches on clay, because that’s the most important.”

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