Carlos Alcaraz clinched his maiden indoor title with a triumphant victory over Alex de Minaur at the Rotterdam Open.
The 21-year-old was pushed to three sets for the third time this week but emerged victorious once more, defeating third seed De Minaur 6-4 3-6 6-2.
Marking his first appearance at the tournament which is renowned for drawing a quality field, Alcaraz walked away with his first trophy of the year and the 17th of an already stellar career. Despite losing to Alcaraz in both their previous encounters, De Minaur put up a formidable fight, bouncing back after the top seed claimed the first set and pushing towards a final set showdown.
The beginning of the third set could have gone either way, until Alcaraz’s superior power and offensive play prevailed, securing him the last four games of the match.
Despite battling a cold and sporting a nasal strip to aid his breathing, Alcaraz expressed his elation during the trophy presentation, saying:, “It’s been a really special week for me.
“Not only for the title but for the support I received from the first day.”
De Minaur faced a sense of déjà vu, having lost the final to Jannik Sinner just a year prior. The Australian graciously addressed Alcaraz, remarking: “We always have some fun battles and I enjoyed my time very much on the court today.
“It’s been two years now with this runner-up trophy. I’m hoping I’ll get my hand on the winner’s one day.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk