Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz feels he will have to be at his absolute best in the Round of 16 match against Alexander Zverev in the ongoing Madrid Open. Alcaraz defeated Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 32 by 6-2, 7-5 to book his meeting against the German.

The Spaniard was able to put himself in front from the get-go as he broke Dimitrov’s serve in the opening game of the first set.

Dimitrov gave a much stiffer challenge to the youngster in the second set but Alcaraz once again won the important points of the sets to win in straight sets.

Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev has a 3-1 lead in H2H against Carlos Alcaraz and the Spaniard will look to turn the tables against the German. In the previous meeting between these two, Zverev won against Alcaraz in the quarterfinal of the Roland Garros 2022 in four sets.

“I really want to play that match. We played a few times, head-to-head he is up,” Alcaraz said of the showdown encounter. “I really want to show my great level here in front of my home crowd. I have great memories from last year in the final but obviously I have to be really focussed in that match. I know that Sascha is a really good player, a really aggressive one with good serves. I have to show all my skills.”

Alcaraz added he was trying to play aggressively against Grigor Dimitrov and he was able to reap rewards.

“When we practiced, it helped me a lot in the tactical game, what I had to do,” he said. “Obviously I was focused on myself all the time, trying to hit the ball really clear and with a lot of power. That was the goal at the beginning of the match, trying to play aggressively all the time.”

Alcaraz will face Zverev on Tuesday in the Round of 16 in the Madrid Open.