Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, made a triumphant return to action at the Mutua Madrid Open, dismissing Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) on Friday.
Alcaraz, who had been sidelined for several weeks due to a right forearm injury, showed no signs of rust as he dominated the match from start to finish. The Spaniard, who considers Madrid his home tournament, played with aggression and precision, hitting 15 winners to Shevchenko’s zero in the first set.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Alcaraz breaking Shevchenko’s serve twice to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Despite a brief rally from the Kazakh, Alcaraz closed out the match with a clutch performance, sealing the victory in just over an hour.
Alcaraz’s victory sets up a third-round clash with Thiago Seyboth Wild, who upset No. 28 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second round. The Spaniard will be looking to continue his impressive run in Madrid, where he has won the title twice before.
Alcaraz’s return to form is a welcome sight for tennis fans, who have been eagerly awaiting his return to the court. The 20-year-old has been one of the most dominant players on the ATP Tour in recent years, and his victory in Madrid is a reminder of his immense talent.
