Legend:
Couldn’t be stopped
Carlos Alcaráz.
IMAGO / Cordon Press
- Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 9) doesn’t give Alexander Zverev (ATP 3) the slightest chance in the final of the ATP 1000 tournament and wins 6: 3, 6: 1.
- After only 62 minutes, the second title of the only 19-year-old Spaniard at the 1000 level is a fact.
- Before his final victory over Zverev, Alcaraz had already brought Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to their knees.
Just a year ago he took part in the ATP 1000 tournament in Madrid as world number 120 and thanks to a wildcard. Now Carlos Alcaraz is the new king of Madrid – and on top of that, from Monday, the new world number 6. Alexander Zverev, himself a two-time champion in Madrid and defending champion, couldn’t change anything about that. On the contrary: The German was presented in the final of Alcaraz.
Soaring without limits
Up to 2: 2 in the first round, Zverev was still able to keep up to some extent with the local heroes, but then the game degenerated into a one-man show. Alcaraz’s return game, which gave him the first break to make it 4:2, was symptomatic of this.
- 0:15: In an intense rally, Alcaraz wears down his opponent until he finally hits the ball wide.
- 0:30: Zverev acts too passively, leaving the initiative to Alcaraz. And the Spaniard strikes. He lures the German to the net with a stop ball, only to pass him shortly afterwards.
- 0:40: After Zverev is too short, Alcaraz unpacks the forehand whip – the next winner.
- Break: Zverev’s attack ball is too imprecise, Alcaraz plays the ball into his opponent’s feet, the German’s volley gets caught on the net.
Demonstration of power in the 2nd movement
Supported by the euphoric audience in the “Caja Magica” and thanks to his inexhaustible self-confidence, Alcaraz left no more doubts about the winner. The Spaniard, who just celebrated his 19th birthday last Thursday, easily brought the break advantage home in the first round.
And even in the second round, Zverev found no remedy against “Carlitos”. When the score was 1: 1, Alcaraz got the next break with his trademark, the forehand stop ball. At the latest, Zverev’s resistance was broken. The Olympic champion couldn’t get his serve through as a result. Zverev was only an extra when Alcaraz used the breakball to make it 4: 1, and the Spaniard’s praise was a feast for the eyes.
In the end, Alcaraz’s hands trembled a little. With a score of 5: 1 and 40: 0 at Service Zverev, the youngster missed 3 break chances. The German ended the final himself with 2 double faults from Deuce.
Dream week with a happy ending
Alcaraz concludes a real dream week with his 2nd title at ATP 1000 level, for the first time he triumphed in Miami (hard court) this year. On the way to the “home win” in Madrid, Alcaraz eliminated world number 4, 1 and 3 in turn with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Zverev – he is the youngest player in the history of the ATP tour to achieve this feat.