Alcaraz sets up Zverev revenge bid in Madrid
MADRID—World number two and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday set up a Madrid Open last 16 duel with Alexander Zverev, the German rival who handed him a heartbreaking, realitycheck defeat at Roland Garros last year.
Alcaraz defeated Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-2, 7-5 in the Madrid third round as he continues his bid to win a 10th tour title before his 20th birthday.
The Spanish crowd-pleaser was briefly troubled when 31-year-old Dimitrov broke for a 4-2 lead in the second set.
However, that merely delayed the inevitable as Alcaraz wrapped up victory in 90 minutes, making just four unforced errors. It was his 25th win of 2023 against just two losses and a 15th victory on clay.
The 19-year-old swept past Zverev in the Madrid final in 2022 for the loss of just four games.
However, just weeks later, the German claimed a four-set victory in the French Open quarter-finals. That was Zverev’s third win in the pair’s four meetings.
“I really want to play that match. We played a few times, head-to-head he is up,” said Alcaraz.
“I really want to show my great level here in front of my home crowd. I have great memories from last year in the final but obviously I have to be really focussed in that match.
He added: “I know that Sascha is a really good player, a really aggressive one with good serves. I have to show all my skills.”
Two-time Madrid champion Zverev needed just 56 minutes earlier Sunday to dispose of France’s Hugo Grenier 6-1, 6-0 on the back of six breaks of serve and 26 winners.
“With Carlos it will be a match-up people will look forward to,” said 16thranked Zverev.
“We played in the final here last year, played a massive match at Roland Garros before I got injured (in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal).”
Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina toppled world number seven Holger Rune 7-6 (7/1), 5-7, 7-6 (7/5).
Rune, who turned 20 on Saturday, had saved a match point in the previous round against Alexander Bublik.