The Finn Ruusuvuori will be Alcaraz’s first rival
Masarova, Burillo and Párrizas advance in the women’s draw
MADRID, 26 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Mutua Madrid Open, fourth Masters 1,000 of the season, kicked off its ATP main draw this Wednesday with the Spanish victories of Albert Ramos, Roberto Carballés and Jaume Munar, while Rebeka Masarova, Irene Burillo and Nuria Párrizas advanced in the WTA tournament .
The hot day at La Caja Mágica began with the victories of Ramos, over the Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, and Carballés against the Belgian David Goffin 6-4, 6- 4. Ramos came back from a demanding debut of almost three hours to now face his compatriot Alejandro Davidovich.
Meanwhile, Carballés, recent champion in Marrakech, extended his good moment by beating a former Top 10 like Goffin, who last year had Rafa Nadal on the ropes. The canary won 90% of the points with the first service and did not have to face any ‘break’ ball. In the second round, Carballés will be the rival of two-time champion Alexander Zverev.
On the other hand, Jaume Munar defeated Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis (7-6(7), 7-6(3)) saving a set ball in the second for a fast track debut in Madrid. The Spaniard met the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the second round. In addition, the number one favorite, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, met this Wednesday his first rival in defending the title, the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori, who got off (7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) the Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
The day at the Manolo Santana was closed by the defeat of the young Spaniard with an invitation Martín Landaluce, in his first match in a Masters 1,000, defeated by the experience and forcefulness of the Frenchman Richard Gasquet in a 6-2, 6-1.
In the women’s draw, Rebeka Masarova beat Cristina Bucsa (6-3, 5-7, 6-4) in the Spanish duel of the day on the central court of the Caja Mágica to advance to the second round, where she will face the Croatian Donna Vekic, together with Irene Burillo and Nuria Párrizas.
Burillo, number 318 in the world and ranked since the previous one, signed the victory of his life by coming back (6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4) against the Estonian Kaia Kanepi and in the second round he will have a duel carats against the American Coco Gauff.
Meanwhile, Párrizas from Granada beat Russian Anna Blinkova with a resounding 6-3, 6-0 and in the second round she will face another Russian, Veronika Kudermetova. The bad news was the elimination of Marina Bassols, invited by the tournament, surpassed by the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (6-1, 6-3).