Carlos Alcaraz Archives

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

May 2, 2024

The clay swing heads to Rome in May for the Italian Open as preparations continue for the French Open.

The combined ATP and WTA 1000 event is the last big tournament before players make their way to Roland-Garros, which starts on Sunday, May 26, live on Eurosport and discovery+.

Last year saw Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina claim the singles titles, but will they repeat their respective triumphs this season?

The Italian Open will see almost all the top stars from both tours in action, and we run through all you need to know, including when it starts, what’s the schedule, when is the draw, and who’s playing…

When is the Italian Open?

Qualifying for the Italian Open starts on Monday, May 6 ahead of the main draw on Wednesday, May 8.

The finals will be held on the weekend of May 18.

As with the Madrid Open, the 32 seeds get a first-round bye so they enter the tournament in the second round.

Play will start at 10am UK time every day until Thursday, May 16 when it begins at midday. There will be evening sessions starting at 6pm each day until finals weekend, when play starts at midday on both days.

When is the Italian Open draw?

The draw is expected to be held on Monday, May 6.

Are Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal playing the Italian Open?

Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal look set to play in Rome.

It will be the first clay tournament that the two tennis greats have contested since the 2022 French Open, when Nadal beat Djokovic on his way to a 14th title.

Djokovic missed the Madrid Open and has only played one clay tournament in Monte Carlo, where he made the semis.

He is a 10-time winner of the Italian Open and looks set to play the tournament for the final time ahead of his potential retirement this year.

Will Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner play the Italian Open?

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have injury concerns ahead of the Italian Open.

Alcaraz has been battling a forearm injury that forced him to miss Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He made the quarter-finals in Madrid but admitted to having “difficult feelings” towards the end of his loss against Andrey Rublev.

After a stunning start to the year the Italian could have a chance to get to world No. 1 in Rome if he is healthy to play.

Who else is playing the Italian Open?

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev will be back in Rome along with Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud.

Andy Murray will not be playing as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will lead the women’s draw.

Elena Rybakina celebrates winning the Italian Open in 2023

Image credit: Getty Images

Neither won the title last year as Swiatek retired with injury in the quarter-finals and Sabalenka was shocked in the second round by Sofia Kenin.

Elena Rybakina was the champion in 2023 and she will be aiming to continue her strong start to the season with another title run.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff could close the gap on world No. 1 Swiatek if she can go far in Rome.

Emma Raducanu’s participation is uncertain. She has not been announced as a wildcard entry but could enter qualifying with her protected ranking.

When is the French Open?

The 2024 French Open main draw starts on Sunday, May 26, with the tournament one of two Grand Slams, along with the Australian Open, that is run over 15 days instead of 14 this year.

The singles finals will be held on the weekend of June 8.

Play starts at 10am UK time every day except for finals weekend, and there will be an evening session scheduled from 7.15pm UK time every day until the semi-finals start on Thursday, June 6.

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Rublev stuns Alcaraz in huge Madrid Open upset after thrilling fightback

May 1, 2024

Andrey Rublev dominated the double-defending Madrid Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a stunning fightback to move into the semi-finals.

After Spain lost Rafael Nadal in the last 16, they lost another giant in Alcaraz as the Rublev came from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 and seal his first top-three victory since the 2022 season.

The victory sets up a last-four battle with either Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo for a spot in Sunday’s final up for grabs.

Rublev earned the first break point of the match and the chance to take a two-game lead in the opener but missed the early opportunity to take advantage when he fired an effort into the net.

Alcaraz took his chance to level with a brilliant cross-court effort and following holds from both players, made the first breakthrough for 3-2 when Hawkeye ruled out Rublev’s long effort.

The defending champion extended his advantage to build a two-game buffer with an excellent drop shot, as the Spanish crowd roared the 20-year-old on at the Caja Magica.

In under a minute, Rublev rapidly moved 40-0 ahead in the following game after an error-strewn string of points from Alcaraz as the Russian held to love with a strong forehand.

But Alcaraz restored his two-game lead and although the set ended tightly when Rublev fought off a set point in the ninth game, struggled to prevent Alcaraz from sealing the opener as the Wimbledon champion took the lead inside 41 minutes.

Rublev started the second set much stronger and held to love in the opening game before racing 40-0 ahead in the next, but Alcaraz saved three break points to claw his way to deuce.

Despite the fightback, Alcaraz became frustrated as he went well wide and Rublev punished the two-time Grand Slam champion to go a couple of games ahead and pile the pressure on.

Rublev found himself a break point down but held when Alcaraz went long to move three games ahead and take complete control of the second set.

Highlights: Sinner edges past Khachanov to make quarters in Madrid

Alcaraz finally got on the board when he returned Rublev’s drop shot with a clinical cross-court effort before the latter went wide for 3-1.

However, Rublev seemed unfazed by the brilliant game from Alcaraz and built a 40-0 lead again as he held for love once more and began to run away with the set.

Alcaraz bounced back exceptionally in the following game after falling 40-0 behind for the fourth time in a dominant set from Rublev, battling past three break points as Rublev went into the net.

With relief for Alcaraz and the gap closed to two games at 4-2, the world No. 3 had the chance for a crucial break but went wide with both chances as Rublev sealed a huge hold to move one step closer to equalising.

Two games later at 5-3, Rublev earned three set points for the fifth time in the set and nailed the second to take the match to a decider.

The momentum stuck with Rublev in the third set as he broke Alcaraz in the opening game to capitalise on the early domination for the second set in a row.

Rublev moved two games ahead and denied Alcaraz the chance to find his way back into the set before he produced another crucial break for 4-1.

The 26-year-old continued his stunning form as he began to dismantle the double-reigning champion to move 5-1 ahead and earn himself the chance to serve for the match.

Alcaraz held the following game, but the damage was already done as the Russian found his way past Alcaraz 40-15 in the final game to conclude the upset and earn his place in the last four.

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‘I kept fighting’ – Alcaraz survives Struff scare to make quarter-finals, Sinner progresses

April 30, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz survived a huge scare to beat Jan-Lennard Struff and reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open, progressing 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6(4) after winning a third set tie-break.

A pulsating, compelling match saw Struff provide a huge challenge to Alcaraz, like he did in last year’s final.

Home favourite Alcaraz is going for a third straight title at the tournament but he knew he was in for a difficult afternoon from the very early stages.

Struff missed three break point opportunities in the third game of the first set and the Spaniard left him rueful, as he took the first break of the match to go 4-2 ahead, before seeing out the set 6-3.

The tie was seemingly only heading in one direction as Alcaraz broke Struff in the first game of the second set – giving the German a huge mountain to climb to stay in the competition.

Forehands were exploding from the racquet of the world No. 3, but his usually dependable drop-shot game was lacking.

As he attempted to take a 2-0 lead in the second, Alcaraz flashed a disbelieving grin as he watched another effort drop short on game point.

Despite eventually seizing that 2-0 advantage, Alcaraz was left stunned as Struff upped the level of his performance to fight back.

Aggressive, powerful play from the German saw him take three games on the bounce and, after losing just two points on serve in four games, pushed Alcaraz to serve to stay in the set.

Another missed drop shot failed to disrupt Alcaraz as he held to make it 5-5, before shaky service games from both were overcome to force a tie-break.

Alcaraz started the breaker the better, but five consecutive points from Struff gave him three set points and, at the third time of asking, he forced a deciding set with an ace down the middle.

There was pure joy from Alcaraz at the start of the third set. Not just because he held serve but because he finally executed a drop shot of beauty on Manolo Santana stadium.

More celebratory fist pumps followed as he made the first break of the decider at 3-1.

Struff was far from done, though, and he bit back once again and, as Alcaraz passed up four match points at 5-3, a worried silence spread across the Spanish capital.

The bouncebackability of Struff saw him take a set, which was well beyond him on several occasions, to a tie-break.

Alcaraz took a 3-0 lead but Struff fought back yet again to level the breaker, before the home favourite eventually progressed, albeit via an unintentional detour.

After the match, Alcaraz said: “It was difficult with me to deal with my emotions, handle certain moments, difficult moments in the match.

“I kept fighting, that’s all that matters.”

Speaking about his home advantage, Alcaraz said: “Well I think I have to say thanks to the people here who are supporting me until the last point.

“It was a great support after those difficult moments I had at the end of the third set. They push me up to not give up and keep fighting.”

Andrey Rublev awaits in the next round.

Sinner prevails after gruelling Khachanov test

Jannik Sinner was made to fight hard – and come from a set down – to eventually dispatch the challenge of Karen Khachanov and reach the quarter-finals in Madrid for the first time, winning 5-7 6-3 6-3.

Sinner suffered with a hip issue during his win against Pavel Kotov in Madrid and his aches and pains will have been tested even further in an uncomfortable duel with Khachanov.

An intriguing battle started as it transpired to go on with the pair fighting to hold serve until 5-5, with Khachanov the only player having a sniff of a break point – which Sinner doused.

Khachanov did take his next chance to make the breakthrough, though, going 6-5 up on his opponent’s serve, before serving to love to move a set ahead.

Highlights: Sinner edges past Khachanov to make quarters in Madrid

The Russian came into this with just one win from his four matches against Sinner, so knew the world No. 2 would not back down easily and so it proved as he made an early break in the second before racing into a 3-0 lead.

Sinner controlled proceedings with the class that has seen him rise up the rankings and levelled things by taking the second set 6-3.

Khachanov’s response to being pegged back was to deliver a brutal opening service game in the third set – taking it to love.

However, he went on to miss two break point opportunities before Sinner moved ahead at 3-2 by taking his first opportunity of the set to win on the Khachanov serve.

Sinner held his serve before breaking his opponent once more to book his place in the last-8.

He will play either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Casper Ruud next.

Stream the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Alcaraz braced for ‘difficult’ Struff rematch after reaching last 16 in Madrid

April 28, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz won his 13th match in a row at the Madrid Open as he beat Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets to reach the last 16.

World No. 3 Alcaraz, who is bidding to win the title for the third year in a row, proved too strong and skilful for world No. 63 Seyboth Wild as he won 6-3 6-3.

“I played a very good level,” said Alcaraz about his display against Seyboth Wild.

“Coming into this match I was nervous a bit. I didn’t know how my forearm was going to be because Thiago has big shots and hits the ball really strong. But I was really happy with the performance.”

Looking ahead to facing Struff, who he beat 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the final last year, Alcaraz added: “I know his level, I know his game a bit. I know that I have to play at my best to beat him.

“I have to be really focused on the return, putting as many balls in as I can and being in the rallies, but it’s going to be a difficult one.”

‘Honestly was so scared’ – Alcaraz on meeting Nadal for first time

Alcaraz came into Madrid with injury concerns over an arm issue that had seem him miss both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. However, he has not looked hampered by the problem so far, dropping just nine games across two matches.

Against Seyboth Wild he reeled off four games in a row to take the first set, breaking serve twice.

Alcaraz continued to dominate in the second set with his heavy hitting and brilliantly disguised drop shots seeing him open up a 5-0 lead.

Seyboth Wild managed to get on the board with a three-game run as he avoided a bagel set, but Alcaraz served the match out at the second time of asking.

Hubert Hurkacz also made the last 16 with a 6-4 7-6(2) victory against Daniel Altmaier.

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev came from 5-0 down in the first set tie-break to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (10) 6-4.

Rafael Nadal plays Pedro Cachin on Monday.

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Alcaraz cruises past Shevchenko despite ‘not feeling comfortable’ on return from injury

April 26, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was still “not feeling comfortable” with the right forearm injury that forced him to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open after he dominated Alexander Shevchenko to move into the last 32 of the Madrid Open.

The 20-year-old had his right arm strapped when he stepped on court to begin his title defence in the Spanish capital and needed little more than an hour to wrap up a 6-2 6-1 victory.

Alcaraz will face Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild as he continues his preparation for next month’s French Open.

“The last month I just practised slices, volleys and backhands so I think it worked pretty well today,” Alcaraz said afterwards.

“That’s something that I was thinking about approaching this match, trying to hit the forehand really softer and trying to be aggressive with the backhand and trying to get to the net as soon as possible and I think I did a really good match in that part.”

The No. 2 seed made the perfect start, breaking his opponent in the first game of the match before racing into a 4-1 lead.

Shevchenko threatened to get back into the opener when he broke back for 4-2, but Alcaraz quickly extinguished those hopes with another break before he held to seal the first set.

The second followed a similar pattern. Again Alcaraz moved a double break up before Shevchenko responded, but the Spaniard proved far too good in the end.

An exquisite drop shot on the stretch earned Alcaraz a match point on his opponent’s serve and his progress was sealed when Shevchenko fired long.

Despite being unable to fire his forehand at its usual ferocity, Alcaraz still hit 24 winners and clinically converted seven of 11 break points.

Asked if his right arm was still bothering him, he added: “Not at all, but I’m thinking about it. It’s not going to leave my mind I think. This Monday was the first [proper] practice I did in a while.

“Coming into this week I’ve been doing good things in practice, getting harder let’s say, but today I’m not feeling comfortable playing my forehand 100%.

“I think playing at this level, I’m really happy to do it and I think I can [still] be competitive.”

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Alcaraz admits he was ‘so scared’ when he first played Nadal

April 24, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz admits he was “so scared” to play Rafael Nadal when the pair first went head-to-head in 2021.

The 20-year-old spoke to the press ahead of the Madrid Masters, with the Spaniard set to play for the first time since Miami after being sidelined with a forearm injury.

While he gets set to finally get his clay court season under way, Alcaraz also wanted to turn back the clock on a tournament where he has an eventful history.

It was here in Madrid that the generations first clashed, Alcaraz playing his hero and fellow countryman Nadal on the clay three years ago. Nadal emerged a fairly comprehensive 6-1 6-2 winner, with the moment getting to his opponent – who was celebrating his 18th birthday that very day.

“It’s difficult, honestly it’s so difficult to face him. The first time in 2021 I honestly was so scared, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz recalled.

“I couldn’t play – his presence, that atmosphere, you feel it’s unbelievable, it’s difficult.”

The two met again the following year in Indian Wells, with that match going to three sets before Alcaraz finally tasted victory against the King of Clay back in Madrid the following year, grinding out a famous win in three sets.

“The next time we learned a lot just how to deal with that situation, we are tennis players, we learned a lot and you want to be the best you know,” Alcaraz continued.

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal attend The Netflix Slam at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Image credit: Getty Images

“The next time I faced him I didn’t feel as scared, I just wanted to beat him and just wanted to go for it and that’s all you have to think about it but I’m not going to lie, it is difficult.”

Alcaraz returns to Madrid this week as a two-time winner and where he really announced himself to the world as a future Grand Slam champion when he beat Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in consecutive matches in 2022 – all three ranked in the top four of the world at the time.

Since then, the Spaniard has gone on to lift two Grand Slam trophies at the US Open and Wimbledon, but whether he can make a tilt at a third at Roland-Garros next month remains to be seen.

Factor in Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, not to mention Nadal himself, and it looks like being one of the most open Roland-Garros fields in recent memory.

But first up for Alcaraz will be to find his feet on the clay courts of Madrid, as he begins to try and defend his title here, before turning his attention to Rome and then the French Open. He has a first round bye, and will play either Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.

As for another potential match up against Nadal, that would have to wait until the final with the duo drawn on opposite sides of the draw.

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Alcaraz: Bellingham ‘one of the best players’ in the world

April 23, 2024

Bellingham has become a pivotal player for Real Madrid since joining, with 17 goals in La Liga this season including the winner against Barcelona in El Clasico last weekend. The England regular also has a handful of goals from the UEFA Champions League to show for his season so far, with a semi-final against Bayern Munich still to come.

Alcaraz: Bellingham ‘one of the best players’ in the world

April 23, 2024

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

April 20, 2024

The Madrid Open will feature the top stars from the ATP and WTA tours.

Carlos Alcaraz has won the men’s title the last two successive years and is bidding to become the first player to win three in a row.

The women’s trophy was won by Aryna Sabalenka as she beat Iga Swiatek in the final.

Who’s playing the Madrid Open this season? Are Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz, Swiatek and Sabalenka playing? When is the draw?

When is the Madrid Open?

The WTA main draw at the Madrid Open starts on Tuesday, April 23 and the ATP main draw starts on Wednesday, April 24.

Play starts at 10am UK time every day until midway through the second week. From May 1 to May 3, play begins at midday UK time, and on finals weekend play starts at 2.30pm.

There are also night sessions running from April 26 to May 3 which start at 7pm.

The women’s final will be held on Saturday, May 4 and the men’s final will be on Sunday, May 5.

When is the Madrid Open draw?

The women’s singles draw will be held on Sunday, April 21 at 5pm UK time and the men’s draw will be on Monday, April 22.

Who is playing the Madrid Open?

The Madrid Open was set to be the first clay event that both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have played since the 2022 French Open – until Djokovic pulled out.

Djokovic has not given a reason for his withdrawal, but his absence means world No. 2 Jannik Sinner will be the top seed.

Nadal will be unseeded as he continues his comeback using a protected ranking.

Carlos Alcaraz’s status is unknown after he missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to an arm injury.

The world No. 3 is in Madrid ahead of the tournament, but said last week in Barcelona: “My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain.

“I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

Alcaraz hasn’t played since losing in the Miami Open quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will headline the women’s draw.

The pair contested the final in Madrid last year and as the top two seeds could meet again with the trophy on the line.

Aryna Sabalenka won Madrid in 2023

Image credit: Getty Images

Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina will be among those looking to challenge for the title, while two-time champion Simona Halep and former runner-up Caroline Wozniacki have both got wildcards.

This will be Halep’s second tournament since returning to the tour after her doping ban was reduced from four years to nine months.

Naomi Osaka is also on the entry list but Emma Raducanu isn’t currently in the draw.

However, as she is not ranked high enough for entry, unless she gets a late wildcard she looks set to miss Madrid.

Djokovic set for Rome return

This is only the third time since 2015 that Djokovic has not won a title by this stage of the season.

The other two times were in 2022, when he was unable to play in Australia or the United States due to being unvaccinated for Covid-19, and 2018, when he had elbow surgery early in the year.

This season he had only played three tournaments before Monte Carlo, losing to Alex de Minaur at the United Cup, Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semis, and then the upset in the third round at Indian Wells against lucky loser Luca Nardi.

It looks like he is next going to play the Italian Open, which starts on May 8, as he builds up for the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympics.

“I want to reach my peak for Paris – that’s where I want to play my best tennis,” said Djokovic in Monte Carlo.

“Anything else is a bonus, so let’s see what happens.”

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Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

April 20, 2024