Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz blasts past Alexander Zverev at Madrid Masters

Carloz Alcaraz ruthlessly disposed of Alexander Zverev in straight sets to seal his place in the Madrid Masters quarter-finals on Tuesday.

A year on from their 2022 final clash, which the Spaniard won in equally convincing fashion, Alcaraz secured a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 83 minutes at the Manolo Santana Stadium.

The German had won their previous meeting at the French Open quarter-finals but was brushed aside here as Alcaraz barely put a foot wrong throughout the one-sided clash.

“For me it’s amazing to play the level that I played today,” said Alcaraz, who secured his 18th straight ATP Tour victory on Spanish soil. “I played at a great level, I didn't let him dominate, I went on the attack the whole time, and above all, I returned really well.

“I played a complete game, and that's how we have this result – but it's not a normal result against [Zverev].

“At the beginning [I felt nerves], but you have to handle [them]. The best players in the world handle the nerves really [well] and I want to be like them. Trying not to show the opponent that I’m nervous at all.

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