Carlos Alcaraz will try to win his second
Madrid Open trophy later today when he faces
Jan-Lennard Struff in the final and he's got a pretty good chance.
Alcaraz was utterly impressive last year in Madrid and he finished things off easily in the final beating a tired Zverev in straight sets. The German had no chance in that one and many expect that Struff losses easily. Things might be a bit different even though Alcaraz has been sensational once again.
For one, Struff will be well rested due to the new format that ensures that both players have a full day of rest before the final. Zverev essentially finished his match after midnight last year and played some 12 hours later again. The other factor is the altitude which benefits Struff greatly as his serve becomes a very big weapon.
It's an important thing to note because Struff nearly beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year and much of that had to do with his serve and style of play. Alcaraz was able to survive but it took an incredible effort and some spectacular shots to do so. He might just need something similar tomorrow and he's certainly capable of doing that.