Sports

Carlos Alcaraz wins Madrid Open crown: You’re the best player right now, says Olympic champion Alexander Zverev

May 9, 2022
Bharat Times English News

Madrid Open 2022: Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz defeated Olympic champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 to win his 2nd Masters 1000 title of the year. He will rise to No. 6 in men’s singles ranking after the dream run at home.

Carlos Alcaraz won the Madrid Open crown, beating Alexander Zverev in the final (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Alcaraz defeated Zverev in straight sets in a one-sided final
  • The 19-year-old won his 2nd Masters 1000 title of 2022
  • He will rise to No. 6 in the ATP rankings after his dream Madrid run

Carlos Alcaraz stormed to his second Masters 1000 title of the year and the first one on clay as eased past Olympic champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 in the men’s singles final on Sunday. Alcaraz became the 2nd youngest player to win two Masters 1000 crowns as Nadal had won Monte Carlo and Rome when he was 18 in 2005.

Alcaraz’s dream run came to a winning end on Sunday as he made light work of Alexander Zverev. The Spanish teenager had beaten his idol Rafael Nadal in the quarter-final and outlasted Novak Djokovic, the World No. 1, in a marathon 3-set battle on Saturday in the semi-final.

Alcaraz, who won 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.

“I want to congratulate Carlitos. Right now you are the best player in the world,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony.

“It is great for tennis that we have such a new superstar that is going to win so many Grand Slams, that is going to be World No. 1 and I think is going to win this tournament many more times.”

Alcaraz has won 4 titles this year, which includes the Miami Open Masters 1000 in March — the most by any player in 2022.

Alcaraz’s brilliant run in 2022 will see him rise to No. 6 in the men’s singles rankings. A year ago, he was ranked as lowly as 120.

The home favorite 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.

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