I have to show that in the quarter-finals,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. In the 19-year-old’s past 15 victories, he has lost a set just once. Khachanov will need to change something against Alcaraz, the defending champion who is now 26-2 on the season. But I think this year I changed a little bit the tactics and the strategy and I think it’s paying off. “I think the years before I was trying to play the same way as I was playing the other years. The altitude and the balls are flying much more,” Khachanov said in his on-court interview after defeating Rublev.

“In Madrid it’s always a little bit different feeling. Now the 10th seed is into the quarter-finals after eliminating fifth seed and doubles partner Andrey Rublev. He earned ATP Masters 1000 glory in Bercy and more recently advanced to the semi-finals at the US Open last year and the Australian Open and the Miami Open presented by Itau this year.Įntering the week, Khachanov owned a 1-5 record in Madrid.

In the five sets they played, Khachanov won just 11 games.īut the 2018 Rolex Paris Masters champion has consistently raised his level on the world’s biggest stages. Alcaraz has won both of the pair’s previous ATP Head2Head meetings, which came last year at Roland Garros and Hamburg. History is not on the 26-year-old’s side. Will Khachanov be able to stop it in its tracks? It was an even more lopsided victory than the one the Spaniard earned in last year’s 6-3, 6-1 final at the Caja Magica. 2 and defending Madrid finalist Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2. Karen KhachanovĪlcaraz produced a ruthless performance on Tuesday to dismiss former World No.

Seventeenth seed Borna Coric and lucky loser Daniel Altmaier will meet for the first time for a spot in the last four.Ī previews the first two Madrid quarter-finals. The 10th seed is fresh off a Top 10 win over Andrey Rublev in the fourth round.Įven with Alcaraz in the top half of the draw, there is opportunity for the other quarter-finalists in the half. Karen Khachanov will take his shot at eliminating the Spanish star on Tuesday at the Caja Magica. Can anyone stop Carlos Alcaraz from successfully defending his Mutua Madrid Open crown?

Just a bit ruthless