Defending Madrid Open champion Carlos Alcaraz came back from one set down to beat Emil Ruusuvuori 2-6 6-4 6-2 inside the Manolo Santana Stadium in 2 hour and 16 minutes reaching the third round at the Madrid Mutua Open.
Ruusuvuori earned his first break when Alcaraz hit his forehand into the net. The Finnish player won all 11 points on his first serve and closed out the first set 6-2 with his double break in the eighth game, when Alcaraz hit a backhand into the net committing his 15th unforced error.
Ruusuvuori earned five break points, but Alcaraz saved them to hold serve after a 14-minute sixth game for 3-3. Alcaraz earned his first break points of the match in the seventh game and converted his second chance when Ruusuvuori hit a cross-court backhand wide.
Alcaraz earned an early break in the first game of the third set at deuce and held serve in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead. Alcaraz went up a double break in the fifth game with a smash at the net to build up a 4-1 lead.
Ruusuvuori saved a match point on his serve to force the match to the eight game. Alcaraz served out the win at 15 to set up a third round match against Grigor Dimitrov.
“It was really tough. I would say I was about to lose. It was just one point. One of the break points he had at 2-3 in the second set was like a match point for him. I was really happy I was able to save that game and come back a bit. It was really tough. Emil played unbelievably, but I am really happy to get though that, When I got to 3-3 in the second set, I thought that this is my chance. I tried to take that. I was really focused. I was trying to put every ball in and running for every ball. Playing with a a good attitude the whole match, I was able to come back”, said Alcaraz.
Alcaraz improved to 1-1 in his two head-to-head matches against Ruusuvuori.
