Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz breezed into the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 victory over Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild in a match that lasted just 75 minutes on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
Wild never looked like beating the Spaniard and committed 23 unforced errors against a rival who has now won his last 23 matches in Spain on clay.
Alcaraz will now face Lennard Struff, whom he beat in the 2023 final in Madrid.
"I hope everything goes as well as last year, but I am going to have to work hard and give 100 percent. It will be an uncomfortable game to play, but the fans will enjoy it," said the Spaniard after his game.
Andrey Rublev won his third-round match 7-6 (12), 6-4 after a marathon first set against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokin, who looked comfortable on the beaten clay at Madrid's Caja Magica.
Elena Rybakina moved into the last 16 in the women's tournament with a routine 6-1, 6-4 victory over Mayar Sherif, with the number four seed quickly establishing her dominance in the opening set, where his patience to control the play on her second serve was a key factor.
Number 10 seed, Daria Kasatkina had to work hard to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (7) 7-5 in a close game where Kasatkina's serve was an important factor.
Yulia Putintseva also qualified for the last-16, with the Russian-born Kazak beating Carolina Dolehide 6-2, 6-2, as she took advantage of her powerful serve at Madrid's altitude.
18-year-old Sara Bejlek from the Czech Republic is the surprise package of the women's singles in Madrid, as the World ranked 133 performed brilliantly to defeat Ashlyn Kreuger of the USA, 6-3, 6-1.
Woman, 31, was left 'burning from the inside out' in 17
Inside the lives of the Grand National WAGs: Horse racing's star
Greece expects more Chinese visitors with extra direct air links
Scaloni: Messi key in decision to remain Argentina boss
Judge: Alabama groups can sue over threat of prosecution for helping with abortion travel
How to upgrade your outdated acronyms to keep up with Gen Z
Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting
Ancelotti keeps Lunin in goal for Madrid in 2nd leg of Champions League semifinal against Bayern
More Chinese people hit road for Dragon Boat Festival