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regular-article-logo Saturday, 23 November 2024

Giant-slayer Carlos Alcaraz annexes Madrid title

The 19-year-old is the youngest player since start of the ATP Tour in 1990 to defeat three top-five players at the same event

Reuters Published 09.05.22, 01:26 AM
Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz File Photo

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz won his second ATP Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open after defeating defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 in front of his home crowd on Sunday.

Alcaraz looked dangerous throughout his run at the claycourt tournament, where he stunned world No.1 Novak Djokovic and 21-time major winner Rafa Nadal before cruising past world No.3 Zverev in the title clash.

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The 19-year-old is the youngest player since start of the ATP Tour in 1990 to defeat three top-five players at the same event.

Alcaraz, who win his first Masters 1000 title in Miami last month, made the first move as he broke Zverev to love for a 4-2 lead before comfortably closing out the set on his own serve.

The home favourite broke to love again for a 2-1 lead in the second set as Zverev began to grow frustrated, failing to find ways to stop Alcaraz. Cheered on by the home fans, the sublime Alcaraz found the double break at 4-1 and won the next two games to wrap up the match in just about an hour.

The Spaniard got the crowd at the Manolo Santana Stadium on their feet with his variety of shots and relentless hitting as he earned a seventh straight top-10 win and tour-leading fourth title of the year.

Ranked 120 in the world just a year ago, Alcaraz will rise to a career-high No. 6 in the new rankings on Monday.

Jabeur best

Tunisian Ons Jabeur sealed her first WTA 1000 title after defeating American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 0-6, 6-2 in an entertaining final on Saturday.

Jabeur had been in scintillating form at the claycourt tournament and the 27-year-old produced a determined display against Pegula to end her journey in the Spanish capital on the perfect note.

Jabeur had a slow start, being down 1-4 in the opener, but took advantage of a handful of loose baseline errors from Pegula to make it 4-4.

The first Arab player to crack the top 10 of the world rankings, Jabeur showed flair and fighting spirit as she saved a set point at 4-5 before closing out the set on her serve.

The Tunisian, however, lost her grip in the second set where she was handed a bagel by Pegula, who recovered remarkably and looked unstoppable.

The decider saw world No. 10 Jabeur at her aggressive best — the Tunisian fighting through a long deuce game and breaking on her first chance to earn a double-break lead and chance to serve out the win.

Jabeur fell to her knees after completing the biggest win of her career, becoming the first African player to win a WTA 1000 title.

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