Alcaraz battles past Struff to retain Madrid title
Published: 04:05 PM,May 08,2023 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 08,2023
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses for pictures with the trophy after winning the 2023 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament singles final match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff at Caja Magica in Madrid on May 7, 2023. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
MADRID: World number two Carlos Alcaraz defended his Madrid Open title with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday.
The US Open champion earned his 10th career title and can reclaim the world top ranking from Novak Djokovic simply by playing a single match at the Rome Masters next week, before the French Open.
Alcaraz continued his Roland Garros build-up by adding the Madrid trophy to victories in Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Indian Wells this year, although he was below his vibrant best against lucky loser Struff, the world number 65.
The 20-year-old was given a tricky time by his German opponent but eventually became the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2006 to defend an ATP Masters 1000 title.
'Today I enjoyed it in parts, in other parts I suffered more than I enjoyed it, but it's what you have to live with,' said Alcaraz.
'Nerves come into play and it's difficult, but I think I enjoyed it more than I suffered today.'
Despite being 13 years Alcaraz's senior, Struff showed nerves in the first game and conceded a break when he double faulted and then sent a volley too long.
It was only his second tour-level final and he was aiming to be the first lucky loser ever to win a title at this level. Struff could also have become the oldest first-time Masters 1000 winner.
Alcaraz consolidated for a 2-0 lead under pressure, surviving a break point as Struff found his range.
The German broke to love for 2-2 as he showed Alcaraz he would be no pushover, despite the strong home support and their disparity in ranking, and then won a third consecutive game.
However Alcaraz broke again for a 4-3 lead when Struff committed another double fault and he survived a triple break point to win the first set, pulling off a fine drop shot and lob combination.
Alcaraz's speed in defence helped him against Struff's power game, which created plenty of problems -- his opponent hit 14 winners in the first set to the Spaniard's seven, with points split evenly at 35 each.
Honours were even after their two prior meetings, although Alcaraz needed five sets to beat Struff at Wimbledon last year and the veteran showed the same grit again in the Spanish capital to make the youngster sweat.
Dominant at the net, Struff roared into a 3-0 lead in the second set and produced a remarkable hold in the 15-minute fifth game for 4-1, saving five break points as Alcaraz's hitting deserted him.
Struff served it out as Alcaraz dropped only his second set of the tournament and first in a Masters 1000 final.
The top seed saved a break point at 1-1 and then broke for a 3-1 lead in the decisive third set when Struff hit a volley long.
Alcaraz forced another break point at 4-1 but Struff stayed resilient until the end and held, with the Spaniard eventually clinching victory when his opponent sent a backhand long.
SABALENKA TAKES REVENGE
On Saturday, world number two Aryna Sabalenka beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek to win the women's title in the Spanish capital.
Sabalenka played a superb attacking game to beat Swiatek for her first win on clay against her top-ranked rival.
The Belarusian prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to capture the title for the second time.
Until Saturday, the 25-year-old had lost all of her three previous meetings with the Pole on clay without even winning a set.
'It's something unbelievable. I'm really happy that I'm able to fight against her and I'm able to get this win so it's not like so super boring for people to watch our matches,' said the champion.
'I really enjoy playing on clay, because I have extra time. It's not super fast, so I can go for my powerful shots. There are longer rallies. It's like not just bomb, bomb.'
The big-hitting Belarusian gained revenge for defeat by her Polish rival in the Stuttgart final a fortnight ago with a thrilling triumph to end Swiatek's nine-match winning streak ahead of her French Open defence.
Two-time Roland Garros winner Swiatek fought her way back into the match after an explosive start by Sabalenka, but the second seed came back strongly in the third set to win the first WTA 1000 final featuring the top two ranked players since 2014.
Sabalenka earned her 13th career title, and only her second on clay in two hours and 25 minutes, clinching victory on her fourth championship point with a forehand cross-court winner.
'I'm just super happy with this win, especially against Iga on the clay, it's always tough matches against her,' added Sabalenka.-- AFP
The US Open champion earned his 10th career title and can reclaim the world top ranking from Novak Djokovic simply by playing a single match at the Rome Masters next week, before the French Open.
Alcaraz continued his Roland Garros build-up by adding the Madrid trophy to victories in Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Indian Wells this year, although he was below his vibrant best against lucky loser Struff, the world number 65.
The 20-year-old was given a tricky time by his German opponent but eventually became the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2006 to defend an ATP Masters 1000 title.
'Today I enjoyed it in parts, in other parts I suffered more than I enjoyed it, but it's what you have to live with,' said Alcaraz.
'Nerves come into play and it's difficult, but I think I enjoyed it more than I suffered today.'
Despite being 13 years Alcaraz's senior, Struff showed nerves in the first game and conceded a break when he double faulted and then sent a volley too long.
It was only his second tour-level final and he was aiming to be the first lucky loser ever to win a title at this level. Struff could also have become the oldest first-time Masters 1000 winner.
Alcaraz consolidated for a 2-0 lead under pressure, surviving a break point as Struff found his range.
The German broke to love for 2-2 as he showed Alcaraz he would be no pushover, despite the strong home support and their disparity in ranking, and then won a third consecutive game.
However Alcaraz broke again for a 4-3 lead when Struff committed another double fault and he survived a triple break point to win the first set, pulling off a fine drop shot and lob combination.
Alcaraz's speed in defence helped him against Struff's power game, which created plenty of problems -- his opponent hit 14 winners in the first set to the Spaniard's seven, with points split evenly at 35 each.
Honours were even after their two prior meetings, although Alcaraz needed five sets to beat Struff at Wimbledon last year and the veteran showed the same grit again in the Spanish capital to make the youngster sweat.
Dominant at the net, Struff roared into a 3-0 lead in the second set and produced a remarkable hold in the 15-minute fifth game for 4-1, saving five break points as Alcaraz's hitting deserted him.
Struff served it out as Alcaraz dropped only his second set of the tournament and first in a Masters 1000 final.
The top seed saved a break point at 1-1 and then broke for a 3-1 lead in the decisive third set when Struff hit a volley long.
Alcaraz forced another break point at 4-1 but Struff stayed resilient until the end and held, with the Spaniard eventually clinching victory when his opponent sent a backhand long.
SABALENKA TAKES REVENGE
On Saturday, world number two Aryna Sabalenka beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek to win the women's title in the Spanish capital.
Sabalenka played a superb attacking game to beat Swiatek for her first win on clay against her top-ranked rival.
The Belarusian prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to capture the title for the second time.
Until Saturday, the 25-year-old had lost all of her three previous meetings with the Pole on clay without even winning a set.
'It's something unbelievable. I'm really happy that I'm able to fight against her and I'm able to get this win so it's not like so super boring for people to watch our matches,' said the champion.
'I really enjoy playing on clay, because I have extra time. It's not super fast, so I can go for my powerful shots. There are longer rallies. It's like not just bomb, bomb.'
The big-hitting Belarusian gained revenge for defeat by her Polish rival in the Stuttgart final a fortnight ago with a thrilling triumph to end Swiatek's nine-match winning streak ahead of her French Open defence.
Two-time Roland Garros winner Swiatek fought her way back into the match after an explosive start by Sabalenka, but the second seed came back strongly in the third set to win the first WTA 1000 final featuring the top two ranked players since 2014.
Sabalenka earned her 13th career title, and only her second on clay in two hours and 25 minutes, clinching victory on her fourth championship point with a forehand cross-court winner.
'I'm just super happy with this win, especially against Iga on the clay, it's always tough matches against her,' added Sabalenka.-- AFP