Nicolás Almagro beat Tommy Robredo (6-3, 3-6, 6-1) in his first-round match at the Mutua Madrid Open. The result gives him a ticket to the next round of the championship, where he will meet Novak Djokovic. After the match, the player from Murcia spoke briefly about what had just happened on the clay of the Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Stadium. He also discussed his chances in his upcoming clash with the current ATP world number two.

The Spanish player was critical of the standard he produced on the court at different times of the tie: “It was a very up and down match. In the first set I think I played very well, without many errors and very aggressive. In the second, when I had a chance to break back was when I first started to doubt myself, and I didn’t play well. In Madrid, with the altitude, you lose a little control of the ball. In the third I came out really aggressive, very focused, knowing that if I played like that I would take my chances. So I was very happy with the victory”, he commented in the mixed zone.

Now he faces the tough challenge of Novak Djokovic, although Almagro is confident he can make life difficult for the Serb and enjoy some chances to win the match: “We’re playing Novak, let’s see how he’s playing and if all those doubts he seems to have in his head stay with him on court and I have chances and I can get a victory”, said the player from Murcia.

The Mutua Madrid Open is starting to enter the phase when everything counts and the standard is stepped up. Almagro knows that, in order to survive, he will have to give his all against one of the best players on tour: “The desire to compete and win is still there”, he assured his audience.