Alcaraz starts Madrid Open defence with quick win

Carlos Alcaraz started his Madrid Open title defence with a comfortable victory over Alexander Shevchenko.

World number three Alcaraz, 20, eased to a 6-2 6-1 win against Kazakhstan’s Shevchenko.

The Wimbledon champion dominated throughout in a statement performance, with 23-year-old Shevchenko unable to match his pace and flair.

It was a welcome return to the clay for Spaniard Alcaraz after a right forearm injury caused him to withdraw from last week’s Barcelona Open, though he was wearing a compression sleeve on his arm during the match.

After the victory, Alcaraz said he was not experiencing any discomfort in the arm but was not “feeling 100%” with his forehand.

“I’m thinking about it, it’s not going to leave my mind,” he said of the injury.

“Coming into this week, I’ve been doing good things in practice, hitting harder, but I’m not feeling comfortable playing my forehand 100%.

“But I think playing at this level, I’m really happy to do it. I still think I can be competitive.”

Alcaraz will face Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild in the third round.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Britain’s Jack Draper suffered a 6-1 7-5 defeat by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.

Draper, 22, started slowly and was punished by the world number nine, who clinched the first set with ease.

Draper fought back in the second but a double fault allowed Hurkacz to serve for the match and wrap up victory inside 77 minutes.

In the women’s draw, two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the third round with a hard-fought 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Poland’s Magda Linette.

Kazakhstan’s former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, fresh from beating Iga Swiatek on the way to last week’s Stuttgart title, was a 6-4 6-3 winner against Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

Britain’s Katie Boulter faces American Robin Montgomery later on Friday and victory would see her face Sabalenka in the next round.