Madrid: Nadal does not give a gift to the prodigy Alcaraz

"Rafa" was not moved by the "Happy Birthday" sung by the sparse public of the Caja Magica barely the warm-up between the two players started. On the surface, the gift - to measure himself on this particular day against the gold standard on ocher, all in Spain - was prestigious for the young Murcian ranked 120th in the world. “I attended the Madrid tournament many times, I saw great players there, great matches. And every time I came, I just wanted to grab a racket and jump on the court. It's a dream come true, ”he said after his first victorious round on Monday. But the reality was less pleasant than expected: from the third game, after a spectacular extension point,Alcaraz visibly felt intercostal pain and immediately sought physiotherapy. From that moment on, he conceded ten consecutive points, until he was led 5 games to 0.

“Playing against him is never easy, neither the first time nor the hundredth.

He didn't let me play at a very good level. ”

Carlos alcaraz

The protected of the winner of Roland-Garros 2003 and ex-world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero had to wait more than half an hour - 32 minutes precisely - to register his first game. much improved. If the young Spaniard managed to seize Nadal's serve to close the gap to 3-1 in the second set, he immediately gave up his white commitment in stride. Was he physically impaired? “Not at all,” Alcaraz replies without looking for an excuse. “I could have done better, but opposite, I had + Rafa +, a big + Rafa +. Playing against him is never easy, neither the first time nor the hundredth. He didn't let me play at a very good level, ”he says. Remains "an unforgettable experience", retains the young player, who isis seen offering a large chocolate cake at the end of the match. The only gift Nadal received was his praise for him. "He is a complete player, very aggressive, he is able to go up to the net very often, he moves really well, he is courageous and he is a good person, with the right attitude, lists the Mallorcan with thirteen coronations at Roland-Garros. I believe that he will skip the steps very quickly, and that he will be a fantastic player in the near future ”. After this first Madrid match, ten days after his first title of the season in Barcelona, ​​"Rafa" is delighted to "feel again at ease and confident in the service".he moves really well, he's courageous and he's a good person, with the right attitude, lists the Mallorcan with thirteen coronations at Roland Garros. I believe that he will skip the steps very quickly, and that he will be a fantastic player in the near future ”. After this first Madrid match, ten days after his first title of the season in Barcelona, ​​"Rafa" is delighted to "feel again at ease and confident in the service".he moves really well, he's courageous and he's a good person, with the right attitude, lists the Mallorcan with thirteen coronations at Roland Garros. I believe that he will skip the steps very quickly, and that he will be a fantastic player in the near future ”. After this first Madrid match, ten days after his first title of the season in Barcelona, ​​"Rafa" is delighted to "feel again at ease and confident in the service".looks forward to “feeling comfortable and confident in the service again”.looks forward to “feeling comfortable and confident in the service again”.

The irony of Medvedev

In the round of 16, he will face the Australian Alexei Popyrin (76th), striker 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 of the young Italian Jannick Sinner. Successful entry into contention also for world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev and for Alexander Zverev (No. 6). For the Russian, back on the circuit after a positive Covid-19 test in mid-April, before his debut in Monte- Carlo is the first clay court victory in more than two years (April 2019). He does not hide being allergic to ocher and needed three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-2) to dismiss the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (49th). "I love clay," he quipped on the camera signed by the players at the end of the matches. The German dominated 6-3, 6-2 the Japanese Kei Nishikori (43rd), when Aslan Karatsev (27th), the Russian revelation of the first part of the season, knocked down 2-6,6-4, 6-1 the little Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (N.9). In the women's table, the first semi-final will oppose world No.1 Ashleigh Barty on Thursday against the surprise Spanish guest Paola Badosa (62nd). The Australian, almost intractable since she traveled again, contained the power (6-1, 3-6, 6-3) of Petra Kvitova (12th). Badosa dominated 6-4, 7-5 the Swiss Belinda Bencic (11th): this is the third victory of her career against a Top 20 player, and especially the third in a month.6-3) by Petra Kvitova (12th). Badosa dominated 6-4, 7-5 the Swiss Belinda Bencic (11th): this is the third victory of her career against a Top 20 player, and especially the third in a month.6-3) by Petra Kvitova (12th). Badosa dominated 6-4, 7-5 the Swiss Belinda Bencic (11th): this is the third victory of her career against a Top 20 player, and especially the third in a month.

Read also

• Madrid: ladies table

• Madrid: men's table