He is the new tennis icon, future Grand Slam champion and world number one - there is no doubt about that.
Carlos Alkaras, who turns 19 in May, became the Masters champion after defeating the Norwegian Kasper Rud 7:5, 6:4 in the final of the tournament in Miami.
Alcaraz tonight became the third youngest winner of the Masters in history, after Michael Cheng (Toronto 1990) and Rafael Nadal (Monte Carlo 2005).
Before Miami, Alkaras reached the semifinals in Indian Wells. This year he played 20 matches and recorded 18 victories. He lost to Matteo Berretini 3:2 at the Australian Open, and to Nadal in the semifinals of Indian Wells in three exciting sets. A star was definitely born.
This is his third title in his career, and he won the previous two on clay - the first in Umag last year, and the second earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro.
The young Spaniard did not start the match well. The forehand did not serve him, so Rud already reached the break in the second game.
The Norwegian led 3:0 and 4:1, but Alkaras came back, tied three games and equalized.
The decisive moment happened in the 11th game, when Rud served - Alkaras had two break points, used the second one, took the lead 6:5, then in the next game he realized the third set point and took the lead 1:0.
In the second set, the Spaniard led 3:0 with two breaks. He had a chance to win the fourth game as well, but the Norwegian managed to return one break and reduce it to 3:1.
Until the end, Alkaras did not allow his rival a break point, so he reached the first Masters trophy in his career.
After the last point, he ran to the stands to hug Juan Carlos Ferrer, once the number one player in the world, and now his coach, who suddenly came to Miami today, and who was crying with happiness because of the success of the young man from Murcia.
Starting tomorrow, Alkaras will be 11th on the ATP list, while Alkaras will be 7th, which is the greatest success in the history of Norwegian tennis.
The Spanish do not have to worry about the future of tennis. A star is born.
Bonus video:
