Pain-Free but Unwilling to Hit Forehand with 100 Percent Intensity

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 26, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz’s first match for the reason that Miami Open was a hit on Friday on the Mutua Madrid Open, although there may be nonetheless some fear about his injured proper forearm after the two-time defending Madrid champion dispatched Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko in his first match for the reason that Miami Open (6-2, 6-1).

The excellent news? Alcaraz, who wore a sleeve to guard his proper arm, felt no ache.

The not so excellent news? The Spaniard says he doesn’t really feel able to hit his forehand at one hundred pc.

“I did not hit my forehand one hundred pc,” he advised reporters after bettering to 13-1 lifetime at Madrid. “I hit it softer than I used to hit it, however I feel it helped me to remain relaxed.”

Make it TWELVE in a row in Madrid 😎@carlosalcaraz takes care of Shevchenko 6-2 6-1!#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/n8oLFSH0LR

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 26, 2024

Alcaraz, who needed to pull out of Monte-Carlo and Barcelona because of the harm, says his precedence for the second is to not blast forehands, however to make sure that he can get by way of a match pain-free. In that regard, the 20-year-old handed with flying colours. Moreover, he appears to be studying one thing about tips on how to play his forehand at lower than full energy as properly – an added bonus.

“The very first thing that I used to be excited about once I was stepping on the court docket is to remain wholesome, to not really feel something within the forearm,” he mentioned. “That is the principle factor for me. After which it was the pictures or the extent – I used to be actually completely happy to not really feel something within the forearm, and after that, I may improve my depth. I may improve my forehand a bit of bit, and it was nice for me this match.”

Second-seeded Alcaraz, bidding to turn out to be the primary participant in Madrid Open historical past to finish a profitable threepeat, will put his abilities – and 12-match Madrid profitable streak – on the road in opposition to Thiago Seyboth Wild within the third spherical at Madrid.