Carlos Alcaraz’s projected path to final at 2024 Madrid Open

Published at :April 26, 2024 at 1:46 PM

Modified at :May 8, 2024 at 6:37 AM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz is a two-time defending Madrid Open champion.

After a successful title defence in 2023, ATP World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz will be looking forward to safeguarding his crown again at the Madrid Open 2024. Amid Rafael Nadal’s absence, Alcaraz has made sure that the capital city gets a countryman as their winner in the past two years. Last year, the Spaniard defeated Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets to claim the prestigious Madrid Open title for the second time.

This year, the 20-year-old has his eye on the ultimate prize again. Interestingly, only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won the ATP 1000 event more than twice in the men’s singles category.

If Alcaraz manages to win the 2024 Madrid Open, he will equal Novak Djokovic’s record of three accolades in the capital city of Spain. Hence, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 20-year-old’s projected path in the 2024 Madrid Open:

Carlos Alcaraz’s projected path to Madrid Open 2024 Final

Round of 64: Alexander Shevchenko

Carlos Alcaraz will start his 2024 Madrid Open campaign against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko. The Kazakh tennis star took down the likes of former ATP World No. 42 Arthur Rinderknech in the Round of 128, with the scoreline reading 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

However, Carlos Alcaraz, who has been seeded second ahead of the tournament, can be a huge challenge to overcome for the 23-year-old. Nevertheless, the two tennis stars will be meeting for the first time on the ATP tour.

Round of 32: Lorenzo Musetti

Lorenzo Musetti has the skill set to be the top guy in the room, but only on his lucky day. This year, the Italian tennis star hasn’t been in the best of his form. Playing 21 matches this year on the tour, Musetti has won only nine and his W/L record stands 9-12 so far this season. The Italian tennis player is currently in pursuit of a big title; however, for top prizes, he will have to win against the top ranks.

The two have faced each other four times on the tour, and Musetti has recorded only a single victory over Alcaraz, which came in 2022 in the final of the Hamberg Open. Since then, Musetti has struggled to win even a single set against the Spaniard in their other three meetings.

Round of 16: Jan-Lennard Struff

The repeat of the 2023 Madrid Open final is expected to take place in the Round of 16 this year. Last year, Jan-Lennard Struff took away a set from Carlos Alcaraz, but that wasn’t enough for the victory as the Spaniard won the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Struff recently won the Bavarian International Tennis Championships by defeating Taylor Fritz in the final, and he also reached the men’s doubles final at the same tournament. The German tennis star has been seeded 23rd in the Madrid Open and won’t be an easy-to-win opponent for Carlos Alcaraz.

Quarter-final: Holger Rune

From being speculated to be a part of the modern Big Three alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to struggling to stay in the top 10 rankings, Holger Rune has seen a lot since 2023. Due to back injuries and issues, the Dane took time off from the sport, and since his return, Rune has struggled to catch up with his competitors on the tour.

Nevertheless, a good campaign can play a crucial role in shifting the momentum in favour of the 20-year-old. Rune will be facing Argentina’s Mariano Navone in his first-round game.

Semi-final: Hubert Hurkacz

Hubert Hurkacz and Carlos Alcaraz have faced each other three times, and all their meetings have taken place at ATP 1000 Masters Hardcourt events. Hence, the two are expected to face each other for the first time on clay at the 2024 Madrid Open. The 20-year-old has been on the winning side in all three meetings, and he’d be looking forward to defeating the Pole one more time at his preferred surface.

Final: Jannik Sinner/Casper Ruud

Jannik Sinner is enjoying a breakthrough year in 2024. In January, he won his first Grand Slam title in Australia by upsetting Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. Afterwards, Sinner also won the Miami Open and the ATP Rotterdam. Sinner has won three titles this year and has lost only two matches. Hence, the Italian youngster is arguably the hot favourite to win the 2024 Madrid Open title after defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

After failing to make ends meet at the final of the Monte Carlo Masters against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud completed his revenge a week later when he finally won his first ATP 500 title against the same opponent at the 2024 Barcelona Open. Ruud is yet to win a match against Alcaraz, but he is also a two-time Roland Garros runner-up.

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