Alcaraz seeks revenge as he takes on Zverev again in Madrid

Top seed and world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz has set his sights on revenge when he takes on Alexander Zverev at the Madrid Masters today.

Defending champion Alcaraz defeated Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-2, 7-5 in the third round on Sunday as he continues his bid to win a 10th tour title before his 20th birthday. But next up will be the Germany’s Zverev who handed him a heartbreaking, reality-check defeat in last year’s French Open when the Spaniard lost in four sets in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

Just weeks earlier, Alcaraz had swept past Zverev 6-3, 6-1 in the Madrid final but the defeat in Paris 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,” Alcaraz said. “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 focused in that match.

“I know that Sascha is a really good player, a really aggressive one with good serves. I have to show all my skills to win.”

Two-time Madrid champion Zverev needed just 56 minutes on 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 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].”

Alcaraz has been in sparkling form this season, retaining his Barcelona Open crown in what was his fourth final in five tournaments, after winning titles in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells.