Alcaraz got serious and in roller mode defeated Dimitrov in two sets

Carlos Alcaraz This Sunday he raised his consecutive victories on Spanish soil to 17, specifically since 2022, and after winning two Godó and this Masters 1000 in Madrid. Dominating, running the ball, with a better sensation than in his debut, the Murcian defeated the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in two sets, 6-2 (35′) and 7-5 (55′), qualifying for the round of 16 of Mutua Madrid Open at Caja Mágica.

Carlos, who suffered more than expected at the beginning of the title defense he achieved last season and needed three sets to win the match against Finn Emil Ruusuvuori on Friday, this time he went with fixed gear and in addition with the deployment of tennis that unusually pleased and entertained the public that filled Manolo Santana.

That’s the second time the tennis player from El Palmar, number two in the world and this year champion of Godó, the Masters 1,000 in Indian Wells and Buenos Aireshe faces the 31-year-old player from Haskovo and who, although in his time, in 2020 he became the third racket in the world, is now 32nd in the ATP.

Dimitrov, with a great retreat and a lot of talent, has everything to say in the six years since he won an ATP tournament. He has since finished his best season, in 2017 with victories at the ATP Finals and Cincinnati Masters 1,000 adding Sofia and Brisbane in the same year.

Alcaraz was playing in Madrid for the third time while the Bulgarian played for the eleventh time. The quarterfinals in 2015 – he was eliminated by a certain Rafael Nadal– his best result in Caja Mágica.

This Sunday’s clash, as far as the first set is concerned, saw for the verdict Alcaraz’s first service break against Dimitrov (2-0) and the second which put it 5-2 in his favour. There the Central European fell a bit and the sleeve was resolved in favor of the Spanish 6-2 in 35 minutes.

In the second set, however, Dimitrov took the initiative, even breaking his rival’s serve in the sixth game (4-2), it was a moment of concern for the Spaniard, but he became serious, released its best version and certified. the counterbreak in white with the right to brutal race (4-3).

Carlos held his serve and made it 4-4, not leaving much room for a possible recovery for the Bulgarian. However, Dimitrov put it 5-4 in his favor on his serve and forced Alcaraz to win him to avoid giving up the second set and going into the third. With white he raised 5-5. Four unforced errors by Dimitrov, perhaps due to pressure, and less aggressiveness, gave Carlos the option to end the game with his serve.

The twelfth game, with a service from Murcia, more Dimitrov errors and a direct kick to make it 40-15, served to prove a victory (6-2, 7-5 in an hour and a half) in second match ball (labeled ‘left’ of the house) giving him a pass to the second round, where he is already waiting Alexander Zverev.