The Murcian defeats McDonald 6-3 and 6-2 and will face Cilic or Ruusuvuori
The day left the defeats of Carreño, Ramos and Davidovich
The Spanish Carlos Alcaraznumber 4 in the world, left behind the defeat suffered last week in his premiere in Montreal and prevailed with authority over the American Mackenzie McDonald (72) by 6-3 and 6-2, in his debut at the Cincinnati Masters 1,000. With renewed energy and motivation to revive himself after the defeat inflicted on him by the American Tommy Paul, Alcaraz settled his first match on the Grand Stand court of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in one hour and five minutes and is already in the third round. He will face the winner of the duel between Croatian Marin Cilic and Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.
Alcaraz revalidated the victory he had achieved against McDonald earlier this year in Indian Wells, when he beat him by a double 6-3 en route to the semifinals, in which he would surrender to his compatriot Rafa Nadal. This Tuesday’s is his first victory in Cincinnati, where last year he fell to the Italian Lorenzo Sonego in his debut in the main draw. He now has a balance of 16 wins for three losses in the Masters 1,000 this year, with the wins in Miami and Madrid as icing on the cake.
Alcaraz needed only 30 minutes to win the first set, with aggressive tennis from the start that disarmed McDonald, who was playing this tournament thanks to an invitation letter. Alcaraz got the break in the first game and only conceded four points on serve, which allowed him to take a comfortable lead until sealing the first set with a new ‘break’, at 5-3. The Murcian managed nine winning shots and moved with ease on the Grand Stand court, allowing only two winners to McDonald, a rival who reached the second round after beating Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Alcaraz did not stop stepping on the accelerator and took command of the second set, with a break in the sixth game, in his third chance of a ‘break’. Solid with the serve and aggressive to the return, Alcaraz had the support of a large part of the public, despite facing an American rival. “It’s fantastic, it’s very good to play on this track,” said the Murcian in the interview at the foot of the pitch, after ruling the match 6-2. He raised his balance on fast surfaces to 13-3 and now has 43 wins for only eight losses this year.
Spanish tennis lost this Tuesday Pablo Carreño, champion of the Montreal Masters 1,000 last Sunday, Albert Ramos and Alejandro Davidovich. Carreño surrendered to the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, Ramos fell to the Italian Fabio Fogninin and Davidovich could not beat the Australian Nick Kyrgios. Still in play, in addition to Alcaraz, Rafael Nadalwho will debut this Wednesday in the center against the Croatian Borna Coric, Roberto Bautista, who will face the American Marcos Giron, Paula Badosa, who will debut against the Australian Ajla Tomljianovic, and the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, who will face the Kazakh Elena Rybakina , Wimbledon champion.