Carlos Alcaraz, who is trying to meet the deadlines to reach the Madrid Masters in condition, starts as second seed and is exempt from playing the first round. Thanks to the loss of Novak Djokovic, the Murcian is second favorite for the title, behind the first seed, Sinner, and will face Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech on Friday or Saturday in the second round of a tournament that he won in its last two editions.
In the third round, Alcaraz could see himself with Lorenzo Musetti, whom he beat comfortably in Miami, in the round of 16 with Ugo Humbert or Jan-Lenard Struff, a surprising finalist last year, in the quarterfinals with Andrey Rublev or Holger Rune, and in the semifinals with Alexander Zverev , winner in 2018 and 2021. Sinner, Ruud or Tsitsipas would remain in the final. Sinner, for his part, will debut against his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego or a player from the previous one.
Alcaraz trained yesterday morning at the Caja Mágica and in the afternoon he was at the official presentation of the Madrid Masters 1000 and was optimistic about his physical condition. “I'm better. I hope to play in Madrid every year and we do everything possible to be there. I don't want to take anything for granted but after the last few days, I dare say that if everything continues like this we will be there.” Carlitos added that he does not consider himself a favorite: “Every game is different.”
The Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko or the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, the El Palmar player's first rival in the Caja Mágica
Rafa Nadal, for his part, will debut against the American Darwin Blanch in the first round. The Spaniard is rushing his training these days to arrive on time for his debut, which will be tomorrow or Thursday, and who aims to be placid against a tennis player with little experience on clay and who is in this tournament as a guest thanks to his agency. representation is IMG, the same one that organizes the tournament.
Nadal will have a more difficult time in the second round, where he could face his executioner in Barcelona, Alex de Miñaur. Then, according to the ranking, Nadal would have Frances Tiafoe in the third round, Stefanos Tsitsipas, recent finalist in the Conde de Godó in the round of 16, Daniil Medvedev, in the quarterfinals, Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud in the semifinals and he would avoid Alcaraz until the final. A duel between the two Spaniards, as already happened in 2021 and 2022, could not take place, therefore, until the fight for the title.
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Nadal will accompany Carlitos, Medvedev and Zverev in the Laver Cup
Rafa Nadal seems to have chased away the rumors that had him retiring in Paris, either at Roland Garros or at the Olympic Games that are held in the same venue a month later. The Spaniard announced yesterday his presence in the Laver Cup, the tournament halfway between official and exhibition that will face Europe and the Rest of the World in Berlin from September 20 to 22. The presence of Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, who will make his debut in the competition, Medvedev and Zverev has already been confirmed in the European team. In the rest of the world, Alex de Minaur, Fritz and Tommy Paul are announced.
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