Carlos Alcaraz reveals ‘nerves’ despite extending Madrid winning streak
Carlos Alcaraz has admitted to ongoing “nerves” at the Madrid Open as he continued his campaign in fine style despite his lingering arm injury.
The world No 3 and two-time defending champion looked in fine form in his round three encounter against Thiago Seyboth Wild, beating the Brazilian 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second week.
Alcaraz has lost just once in Madrid previously and has now won 13 matches in a row at the Masters 1000 tournament, and is considered by some the favourite to claim the title once again.
Victory in next Sunday’s final – which will also be his 21st birthday – would see him become the first person to ever ‘threepeat’ at the tournament.
But the Spaniard came into this tournament having withdrawn from Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to an arm injury and admitted he was still unsure about how his body would hold up.
He said: “I think I played at a really good level.
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“Coming into this match I was nervous a little bit because I didn’t know how my forearm was going to be. Thiago has big serves and hits the ball really strong. But I’m really happy with my performance.
“It has been a long time since I felt this kind of nerves. I’m really happy to do it at the end and get a chance in the next round.”
Alcaraz will next be in action on Tuesday, where he will take on a very familiar face.
German Jan-Lennard Struff stands between the second seed and a return to the last eight, with Struff taking Alcaraz to three sets in the final 12 months ago.
Struff is clearly comfortable at this tournament, with an impressive win over Ugo Humbert on Sunday, and won his maiden ATP title in Munich a week ago.
The world No 3 will be the favourite to triumph once again in their round four contest, but knows he will have to perform well again to fend off a potentially fierce challenge.
Alcaraz added: “Hopefully the result will be like the final last year.
“I know his level and his game. I have to play at my best if I want to beat him. He has big shots and a big serve.
“I have to focus on the return, putting as many balls as I can to be in the rally. it’s going to be a difficult one.”
