Madrid Open 2024: Alexander Shevchenko vs Carlos Alcaraz preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :April 25, 2024 at 7:21 PM

Modified at :April 25, 2024 at 7:21 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

This is the first meeting between both the players.

After an enthralling Barcelona Open, the tennis action now shifts to the clay courts of Madrid, Spain. Defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, is set to compete against Alexander Shevchenko in the second round of the Madrid Open 2024.

World No. 3, Alcaraz, has had a below-par year in 2024 with his season marred by setbacks and injuries. The Spaniard started the year with a first-ever quarter-final finish at the Australian Open, then failed to defend his title at the Argentina Open after going down to Nicolas Jarry in the semis. Alcaraz also had to give a walkover in the first round of the Rio Open due to injury and also pulled out of the recently concluded Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open 2024.

His only highlight of the year has been the title win at Indian Wells, where he successfully retained the championship with a straight sets win over Daniil Medvedev. Also a defending champion at the Madrid Open, Alcaraz will want to repeat that feat at the Caja Mágica.

Meanwhile, Alexander Shevchenko, the world No. 59, is a decent competitor. He has a win-loss record of 2-7 against the top-10 ranked players but has a 0-3 record on clay courts. He defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the first round to advance ahead at the Madrid Open 2024.

Against the Frenchman, the first set was pretty tight until Shevchenko broke for the first time in the 10th game to win the set. Rinderknech made a comeback with a late break to steal the second set, but the Kazakh raised his standards in the decider to ultimately win by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Shevchenko match details

Date: April 26, Friday
Time: TBD
Venue: La Caza Majica, Madrid

Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Shevchenko preview

Carlos Alcaraz was crippled by the injury that forced him out of the Barcelona Open. He is making a comeback after the injury at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz is a seriously high-class player, and temporary stats won’t do justice, as he can produce his magical best any day. His last title win came at the Indian Wells Open, where he was in scintillating form.

It will be interesting to see how he copes with the playing conditions on the clay courts of Madrid. He is also a two-time defending champion at the Madrid Open and is accustomed to making big comebacks after injury scares.

On the contrary, Shevchenko has already experienced the playing conditions at the Madrid Open 2024. In the first round, he blasted an impressive 42 winners to accumulate 94 points against Rinderknech’s 37 winners and 88 points. He fired three aces and committed only one double fault. He won 74% of the time on his first serve and 62% on his second serve. He won 67% of the crucial break points (2/3) to make his way to the second round of the Madrid Open 2024.

Head-to-head record

Carlos Alcaraz – 0

Alexander Shevchenko – 0

This will be the first time the duo will compete against each other. Though Alcaraz is a big tennis giant, Shevchenko has created an upset twice and it will be interesting to see who draws the first blood.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Alexander Shevchenko vs Carlos Alcaraz, Madrid Open 2024, second-round match in India?

The second-round face-off between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Shevchenko at the Madrid Open 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. The tennis fans catch the live telecast of the game on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD/HD channels. The network’s streaming service, SonyLiv, will make available the match on their app and website.

Prediction

Carlos Alcaraz is making a comeback after the injury and will look to turn his fortunes at the clay courts of Madrid. He has a win-loss record of 15-4 in 2024 and 2-2 on the clay courts. The spicy Spaniard is a serious force on the court and a world-class player. He is also known to make big comebacks after an injury hiatus. However, he is limited by his injury scares and may not be at his hundred percent form.

On the contrary, Shevchenko will have his best chance to oust the recently crippled Alcaraz, who may be slightly vulnerable. Shevchenko has a win-loss record of 10-13 in the year 2024 and a 1-3 record on the clay courts. He is also no stranger to giving a tough fight in big matches, as he has created big upsets twice against the top-10 ranked players.

Alcaraz will be the serious favorite heading into the match, but a lot will depend on how his body holds up. Meanwhile, Shevchenko has enough skill to trouble Alcaraz, but he is very inconsistent for it to be effective. The two-time defending champion will defend his title when he sets foot on the clay courts of Madrid.

He is a serious pedigree player and has enough weaponry under his belt to blaze past Shevchenko in the second round at the Madrid Open 2024.

Result: Carlos Alcaraz to win in straight sets

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