Carlos Alcaraz was not born when Madrid hosted the first edition of the Masters 1000 event! Rafael Nadal debuted in 2003, playing every year until missing the latest due to an injury. Madrid switched to clay in Caja Magica in 2009, and only two players have defended their title.
Nadal did that in 2013 and 2014, and Alcaraz followed his idol’s achievement with a great run in the previous two editions
. The young gun conquered Madrid in 2022 and defended the title on Sunday to match Nadal’s achievement and secure another notable milestone.
Alcaraz debuted in Madrid in 2021, becoming the youngest player with a victory at this event before losing to Rafael Nadal on his 18th birthday. Carlos returned more decisive last year and claimed his second Masters 1000 crown a couple of days after turning 19!
Alcaraz faced four top-11 players en route to the title in front of his fans, prevailing in the crucial moments and writing history books. Carlos took down Cameron Norrie before facing Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic within two days!
The young gun scored two thrilling victories to advance into the title clash, becoming the first player to beat Nadal and Djokovic at the same ATP clay event!
Carlos Alcaraz is the first back-to-back Madrid champion since Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz was too strong for Alexander Zverev in the final, dropping four games and lifting the title in style.
Carlos was the favorite to defend the title this year, and he proved that on the court. Alcaraz lost the opening set in the second round against Emil Ruusuvuori before raising his level and making a winning start. The Spaniard took down Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets and destroyed the last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in no time for a place in the final eight.
Alcaraz worked hard versus Karen Khachanov in the quarter-final and scored a 6-4, 7-5 triumph in an hour and 50 minutes. The Spaniard trailed 5-2 in the second set and rattled off five straight games to seal the deal and avoid a decider.
Carlos played better behind the first serve and defended four out of five break points. He stole Karen’s serve three times, enough to seal the deal and remain on the title course. Alcaraz secured a place in the title clash with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Borna Coric in an hour and 40 minutes on his 20th birthday.
Carlos and Borna met for the first time, and the Croat gave his best to follow the rival’s pace and seek his chances. Alcaraz overpowered him on serve and return to seal the deal in straight sets. The Spaniard faced two break points and lost serve once.
Carlos stole almost half of the return points and turned them into four breaks from six opportunities, enough to move over the top. The home favorite met a lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff in the title clash. He earned a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and 25 minutes, becoming the second defending champion in Caja Magica.
The German played aggressive tennis and did his best to keep the points on his rallies and avoid more extended exchanges. However, the young gun found a way to break his rival’s resistance in the decider, winning the title after a massive battle.
Alcaraz denied six out of eight break points and stole the rival’s serve three times to emerge at the top. Carlos hit 19 winners and 31 unforced errors, and Jan-Lennard added 26 direct points and 33 mistakes. The young gun had more service winners.
Still, Struff attacked with the first groundstroke and built the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes. Alcaraz erased the deficit in the mid-range rallies and earned his victory in that segment. The German threw everything at the home favorite, keeping the points on his tally and rushing to the net to break the rival’s rhythm.
Jan-Lennard missed a break chance in the third set’s third game and lost serve in the next one to spoil his chances and settle with the runner-up prize.
