Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Masters 1000 title in Miami, beating Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 52 minutes! Super talented Spaniard lost to Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells semi-final and was eager to change that in Florida.
The 14th seed took down Marton Fucsovics, Marin Cilic, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Miomir Kecmanovic to reach the semi-final. A teenager defeated the defending champion Hubert Hurkacz in two tie breaks to become the fourth 18-year-old in the Masters 1000 final after Michael Chang, Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet.
Eager for more, the Spaniard took down Casper Ruud in a battle of the first-time Masters 1000 finalists to write history and move on the verge of the top-10. At 18 years and ten months, Carlos became the youngest Miami Open champion.
He stole the record from Novak Djokovic, who was 19 years and ten months old while winning the first title in 2007. Also, Alcaraz became the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and his compatriot Rafael Nadal.
Carlos Alcaraz became the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion!
Carlos won 11 points more than Casper and saved six out of eight break chances to keep the pressure on the other side. The Norwegian suffered four breaks and dealt with an injury in set number two to finish on the losing side and settle with the runner-up prize.
Alcaraz built the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes, standing as the more aggressive player and firing 27 winners and 22 unforced errors. Some of the Spaniard’s drop shots did not work as he wanted, but he gave his best to control the rallies and keep the points on his racquet.
Ruud made a promising start and grabbed a break in game two after Alcaraz’s forehand mistakes. Both players served well in games three and four, and Casper faced a break point in game five from 40-0 up. Carlos squandered a break chance with a loose drop shot, and the Norwegian held for a 4-1 advantage.
A teenager stayed calm and broke back in game seven after Ruud’s forehand error. They both served well in the next three games to lock the result at 5-5 and increase the drama. Casper placed a forehand wide in the 11th game to experience a break, and Carlos served for the set in the next one.
A teenager defended a break point in game 12 with a service winner and seized the third set point with a smash winner for 7-5 after an hour. The youngster took six of the last seven games and continued in the same style in set number two.
With a boost on his side, Alcaraz seized the third break point at the start of the second set with a lob winner and held with a service winner in the next one for 2-0. Flying over the court, the Spaniard cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in game three for another break and a big step toward the finish line.
Casper clinched the sixth break chance with a forehand winner in game four to reduce the deficit and held at love in the next one for 2-3. Ruud received a medical timeout on his left hip during the break, and Alcaraz opened a 4-2 lead with a hold at love in game six.
Carlos forced the rival’s mistake in the eighth game to remain in front, and Casper landed an ace in the next one to extend the duel. A teenager served for the title in game ten and held at love with a perfect serve & volley combo to start a massive celebration and write history books.
