Alcaraz and Sabalenka, the defending champions, emerge victorious in their opening matches at the Madrid Open | Lifestyle

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Carlos Alcaraz Makes Strong Return at Madrid Open

MADRID (AP) — After a month-long absence from the court due to a right arm injury, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return at the Madrid Open on Friday. Despite concerns about his fitness leading up to the tournament, Alcaraz cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Alexander Shevchenko in his opening match.

Alcaraz, who had to withdraw from both the Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments due to his injury, admitted that he played with caution, opting to hit his forehand softer than usual to avoid aggravating his arm. However, the young Spaniard was pleased with his performance and relieved to feel no discomfort during the match.

“I was really happy to not feel anything in the forearm, and after that I could increase my intensity a bit. It was great for me this match,” Alcaraz said.

The defending women’s champion, Aryna Sabalenka, faced a tougher challenge in her opening match, defeating Magda Linette 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on the clay courts of the Caja Magica.

For Alcaraz, Madrid marks his first appearance on the European clay court swing this season, as he looks to improve on his performances in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro earlier this year. With his sights set on winning his first French Open title next month, Alcaraz is focused on gradually returning to full fitness.

“Right now I’m thinking to be better or get better every day, and I’m thinking to be closer to my 100% here in Madrid,” Alcaraz said. “Let’s see how it’s going to be the next few weeks. But the main thing is to be ready for the next tournament and obviously for Roland Garros.”

Seeded second in Madrid behind Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz played with a compression sleeve on his right arm but showed no signs of slowing down on the court. He broke Shevchenko’s serve four times and will next face Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil in the round of 32.

Seyboth Wild, who upset Daniil Medvedev at last year’s French Open, is expected to provide a tougher challenge for Alcaraz in the next round. Other players who advanced in the tournament include Andrey Rublev, Tommy Paul, Hubert Hurkacz, and Denis Shapovalov.

In the women’s draw, Sabalenka overcame a slow start to secure her spot in the next round, while Elena Rybakina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also advanced with impressive performances.

As the action continues at the Madrid Open, tennis fans can expect more thrilling matches and surprises as the tournament progresses. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting event.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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