As a year ago, the world N.2 arrives in Madrid freshly titled in Barcelona.

But in one year, the Spanish phenomenon -- who will celebrate his 5th birthday on May 1 during the Madrid tournament -- has grown to become a Grand Slam winner at the US Open last September, and world No. <>, a throne recovered by Djokovic since.

So much so that in the absence of Djokovic and Nadal, he is the favorite of the Madrid Masters 1000. Even more so when we see how he manhandled Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world No. 5 clay specialist, in the final in Catalonia on Sunday, to offer himself his third trophy of the season, after Buenos Aires and Indian Wells.

"Physically, I feel 100%. I really want to start (the tournament), with the level I showed in Barcelona, I arrive with a lot of confidence," Alcaraz said.

Poland's Iga Swiatek in the final of the Stuttgart tournament on April 23, 2023 in Stuttgart © THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP

"My intention is to have fun on the court, and to make people have fun. I like to play in front of so many audiences, especially if it's in Spain, in front of my loved ones, it's a very big motivation," continued the protégé of Juan-Carlos Ferrero.

Humbert to start?

In one year, "my game has not changed much, the difference between last year's Carlos and this year's is that I have gained experience, maturity," he said.

Exempt from the first round, Alcaraz will start this weekend against France's Ugo Humbert (77th) or Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori (41st). He could meet in the knockout rounds Alexander Zverev, finalist in 2022, and why not again Tsitsipas in the final.

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Masters 1000 in Barcelona on April 23, 2023 in Barcelona © Pau BARRENA / AFP

Around the Nadal case meanwhile, the doubts do not really dissipate.

The Mallorcan with 22 Grand Slam trophies, injured in a hip muscle since the Australian Open in January, has not played competitively since. Forfeit in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, at best the clay giant will launch its season on ochre in Rome, twenty days before Roland-Garros.

"My wound is still not healed. Its evolution was not what was indicated to us at the beginning. I can't give deadlines, because I don't know them," "Rafa", who recently implemented another treatment, said in a video posted on social media last week.

"There is not much missing for him to return to competition," his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal told Spanish television on Tuesday. Obviously, he will not arrive with a good preparation, we must not hide the face (...) But Rafael knows how to get back in shape quickly."

Jabeur forfeit

Denmark's Holger Rune in the quarterfinals of the Munich tournament on April 21, 2023 in Munich © Christof STACHE / AFP/Archives

Djokovic, back on the circuit in his version of the bad days in Monte-Carlo and Banja Luka (Bosnia), where he lost respectively in the eighths and quarterfinals, and caught up by an elbow alert that had made him suffer several years ago, preferred to skip the Madrid tournament.

Alcaraz (and he is not the only one) could dethrone him from the No. 1 spot in the world before Roland Garros, if he retains the title in Madrid and lines up in Rome the following week, or if he reaches both finals.

"Becoming N.1 again is a goal but, compared to Paris, it does not change much," he said.

Also to follow in the Caja Magica in Madrid, two other men in form: the Danish Holger Rune, not yet twenty years old either, recent finalist in Monte-Carlo and winner in Munich, and the Russian Andrey Rublev, he victorious in the Principality and finalist in Banja Luka.

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur has to give up defending her title, victim of a tear in her left calf last week in Stuttgart (Germany). The rest of the top 5, led by Poland's Iga Swiatek and closed by Caroline Garcia, is well at the rendezvous.

© 2023 AFP