(Miami) 18-year-old phenom Carlos Alcaraz was crowned Miami Open champion on Sunday, defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4.
Posted at 3:51 p.m.
Supported by many Spanish supporters showing the country’s flag, Alcaraz, 16and world racket, needed only one hour 53 minutes to get rid of the sixth seed.
“I love Miami, said the winner, who did not appear in the top 100 of the ATP at the same point last year 133and). I felt at home from my very first game. »
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Carlos Alcaraz
In the process, he landed the scholarship of over $1.2 million and nearly doubled his total career monetary earnings.
He also became Miami’s youngest tournament champion, beating Novak Djokovic by a year.
During the tournament, Alcaraz knocked out the third seed, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 16. His record this year is 18-2.
For his part, Ruud, a 23-year-old Norwegian, overthrew Russian Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
PHOTO WILFREDO LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Casper Ruud
In the only other duel between Ruud and Alcaraz, in 2021, the Spaniard also won in two sets.
On Sunday, Alcaraz had drop shots at tense moments, showed a nice touch at the net and showed power from the back of the court, as the case may be.
At the end of the victory, Alcaraz reserved its first accolade for its trainer Juan Carlos Ferrero – the latter missed part of the tournament, in mourning for his father, but he returned in time for the final.
“It’s wonderful to share this with you,” Alcaraz told Ferrero.