Carlos Alcaraz Wins Hard-Fought Madrid Opener

Impressive Victory in First Tournament of Clay Season

Alcaraz Defeats Struff in Repeat of 2023 Final

Madrid, Spain - World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his clay season with a hard-fought victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open. In a rematch of the 2023 final, Alcaraz emerged victorious 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 to reach the second round.

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both players showcasing their fighting spirit. Alcaraz got off to a strong start, breaking Struff's serve early in the first set. However, Struff responded in the second set, breaking back in the eighth game and eventually taking the set in a tiebreak.

The third and fourth sets were equally tight, with both players holding their serve until the very end. Alcaraz was able to clinch the third set in another tiebreak, but Struff refused to go down without a fight and won the fourth set 6-4.

In the deciding fifth set, Alcaraz broke Struff's serve in the seventh game and held on to his own serve to seal the victory. The match lasted nearly four hours, showcasing the grit and determination of both players.

With this victory, Alcaraz extends his winning streak at the Caja Magica to 11 matches. He will next face either Aussie Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas or Russian qualifier Karen Khachanov.