Carlos Alcaraz, the former world No. 1, continued his impressive run at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open, defeating Jan-Lennard Struff in a thrilling three-set battle to reach the quarterfinals. The victory marked Alcaraz’s 14th consecutive match win and extended his unbeaten streak in Madrid to two years.
Despite arriving in Madrid with injury concerns, Alcaraz has shown no signs of discomfort, showcasing his trademark power and intensity. In the first set, he dominated with his big-hitting, securing the lone break and serving it out with 14 winners.
The second set saw a resurgence from Struff, who broke Alcaraz in the first game and pushed the set to a tiebreaker. However, Alcaraz remained composed, saving two set points and forcing a third set.
In the final set, Alcaraz raced ahead 4-1, but Struff fought back bravely, earning a break point in the eighth game. Alcaraz held on, but the drama continued as Struff saved four match points and broke back to level the set.
Undeterred, Alcaraz regained control in the tiebreaker, winning the first two mini-breaks. Struff responded, but Alcaraz pulled away, winning the final four points to secure victory on his fifth match point.
Alcaraz’s victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with No. 7 seed Andrey Rublev, who has also impressed in Madrid. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 1-0.
