One of the champions that appeared in this edition, on the street already in the round of 16. Surprising slip from the German Alexander Zverevseeded fourth, who won the Mutua Madrid Open in 2018 and 2021.
He was captured by the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo25 years old and world number 22, 6-3 and 6-4 in an hour and a half of play on the Arantxa Sánchez Court.
Zverev is now one less problem for Carlos Alcaraz at the tournament. He was the hypothetical rival of the defender of the crown in the semifinals, but the German left very soon, although not as much as in 2023, when he was hunted from the start by the Croatian Borna Coric.
He has always been a difficult enemy for the Murcian, although he was his executioner in the Caja Mágica twice, in the 2022 final and the 2023 round of 16.
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Cerúndolo will meet the American Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, and the best will face the Russian Andrey Rublev or to his next rival, who will emerge from the clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Jan-Lennard Struffa repeat of the 2023 final.
