Alcaraz wins first title of the year

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final on Sunday with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.  This win marks Alcaraz’s first indoor title, adding to his growing list of accomplishments at just 21 years old. The victory also makes him the first Spanish champion in the tournament’s 52-year history. 

Alcaraz, the top seed in the tournament, secured his 17th tour-level title with the Rotterdam win, as well as his first victory since the China Open last September. It was his first tournament since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-finals last month. De Minaur put up a strong fight, but Alcaraz ultimately prevailed in the final set.

The match began with Alcaraz taking the first set 6-4. De Minaur then rallied, breaking Alcaraz’s serve in the second set and leveling the match with a 6-3 win. The final set saw Alcaraz regain control, securing a crucial break in the sixth game to go up 4-2. He then held serve and broke De Minaur again to win the set 6-2, securing the title. The match lasted one hour and 54 minutes. 

Alcaraz expressed his gratitude to the Rotterdam crowd, saying, “This week has been fantastic… This was my first time competing here, and you (the fans) made it feel as though I’ve been a part of this tournament for a long time”. 

The Spaniard has now won ATP 500 titles on clay, grass, and hard courts, adding an indoor victory to his accomplishments. He also has a 3-0 record against De Minaur in their head-to-head series, all at the ATP 500 level.

De Minaur, who was the runner-up to Jannik Sinner in the previous year’s Rotterdam final, acknowledged his progress, stating, “We’re striving for greater achievements… It’s been two years now with this second-place trophy, and I’m hopeful to one day hold the winner’s trophy”. With his performance in Rotterdam, De Minaur is set to return to his career-high ranking of No. 6.