Nadal starts with a bang as Casillas and Raul watch on
World No. 2 cruises past birthday boy Alzaraz in impressive start to his campaign
RAFAEL Nadal cruised to victory over birthday boy Carlos Alcaraz to start his Madrid Open campaign in impressive fashion.
The world number two moved into the last 16 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory on Wednesday.
After being knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters by Andrey Rublev in the last eight, Nadal bounced back to win the Barcelona Open last month and continued his momentum in this round-of-32 clash.
As wildcard Alcaraz turned 18, the spectators sang happy birthday to him but he could not mark the occasion with a famous result against his idol, with Nadal broken just once on his way to a 8-minute victory.
Five-time tournament winner Nadal converted five of his seven break points in a ruthless showing, with Real Madrid greats Iker Casillas and Raul in the crowd to watch him.
Nadal will play Alexei Popyrin, a straight-sets winner against rising star Jannik Sinner, in the next round.
Elsewhere, second seed Daniil Medvedev came from behind to defeat home hope Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. It was his first win in seven ATP Tour matches on clay.
“I am happy with the win,” said the Russian.
“The first set wasn’t easy and I thought it was going to be where I had another 2 break points and I wouldn’t win. “I finally played quite well and did well in the third set. Madrid is a little faster than other clay tournaments, so it is better for my game.”
The win means Medvedev has an 18-3 record this season and faces Chile’s Cristian Garin next.
Medvedev’s compatriot Aslan Karatsev beat Diego Schwartzman 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, having also defeated the French Open semi-finalist at the Australian Open this year.
In-form Karatsev will face Alexander Bublik next after his fourth top-10 win of the year.
Fifth seed Alexander verev said he was “clinical” in dispatching Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 in just 4 minutes, while fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will play Benoit Paire later on Wednesday.