Carlos Alcaraz won his 13th consecutive victory on the circuit on Wednesday, starting the Toronto Masters with a success against Ben Shelton (41st) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). The second-round match between the two 20-year-olds was won by the Spaniard, the big favorite to clinch the title in Canada, he gets his first career victory in Toronto. The world number 1 remains on two tournaments won on grass: Queen’s Club and Wimbledon.
Alcaraz now has 48 wins for 4 losses over the season and is preparing to defend its title at the US Open. The top seed admitted that he was sometimes overtaken by his American opponent (41st in the world), during the 56-minute match: “He was more aggressive than me from the start,” commented Alcaraz. “I tried to be solid and find my rhythm, but I had some difficulties.” “But I’m happy to be in the next round. Matches like this help me focus. I have to play better from now on,” he added. In the round of 16 it is the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, seeded N.15 who will try to deprive Alacaraz of a seventh title.
If Alcaraz continues to shine, this is not the case for his rival Holger Rune. The Dane is struggling to find his rhythm after a nice run at Wimbledon. The world number 6 reached the quarter-finals where he lost to … Carlos Alcaraz. Since returning to hard, Rune has been looking for a win. Facing the local Marcos Giron (70th), the Scandinavian lost for the fourth consecutive time. Without real feeling, the 20-year-old logically lost the first set (6-2) before returning to pride to doubt the American. But in a tense final set with seven double faults, the No. 5 seed let the game slip away. Defeat in 2h06 6-2/4-6/6-3. Marcos Giron will face his compatriot Tommy Paul (14th) in the next round.
He seemed to find his best level, yet Alexander Zverev (16th) was swept away during his second round in Toronto. The German who remained on a title in Hamburg and six consecutive victories without conceding the slightest set had arguments to foil his opponent. Yet in just one hour, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (37th) ruined Zverev’s hopes by beating him for the first time in four confrontations (6-1 / 6-2). With 15 winning strokes for 2 unforced errors, the Spaniard made the almost perfect match, he will be opposed to world number 5, Casper Ruud, in the round of 16 in Toronto.
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