Rise Up! Carlos Alcaraz’s winning Madrid formula | ATP Tour

Beyond The Numbers

Rise Up! Alcaraz’s winning Madrid formula

Alcaraz’s Madrid 2023 opponents’ average contact height was 1.22 metres

April 26, 2024

ATP Tour

By Craig O’Shannessy

Get the ball up!

The age-old strategy of using height as a weapon on clay is still alive and kicking in today’s game. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Carlos Alcaraz’s title run at the Mutua Madrid Open last year identifies he made his opponents contact the ball higher on average then he did in all six matches played.

It’s important to note that Madrid is 655 metres (2149 feet) above sea level and has the fastest clay-court playing conditions on tour. Because of the altitude, the ball gets through the court faster in Madrid than in other clay court ATP Masters 1000 cities such as Monte-Carlo and Rome. But Alcaraz was still able to use height as a primary weapon to secure a coveted Masters 1000 title on home soil.

The table below breaks down the average rally height for Alcaraz and all six of his opponents in Madrid in 2023.

Average Rally Contact Height (Metres)