Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Madrid Open title, defeating Jan-Lennard Struff in a grueling final on Sunday. The world No. 2 clinched his fourth ATP Tour trophy of the year and his 10th overall after winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in front of a packed Caja Magica. Alcaraz got off to a flying start, breaking Struff’s serve in the first game. Struff won the second set 6-3, but Alcaraz was able to regroup and win the third set to win the match.

Carlos Alcaraz Triumphs in Madrid Open, Defending Last Year’s Title

Alcaraz had a tough start to the season, with injuries plaguing his progress. However, he came back in top form last month to win the Barcelona Open for the second consecutive year. In Madrid, the 20-year-old Spaniard needed to be at his best to defeat the tenacious Struff in three sets.

This is Alcaraz’s fourth ATP Masters 1000 title, and he has held the world No. 1 ranking since last September, when he won the US Open. He has now won 21 straight clay-court events in Spain.

Carlos Alcaraz Primed for World No 1 Spot After Madrid Open Victory

If Alcaraz wins the next ATP Tour tournament in Rome, he will reclaim the world No. 1 ranking, displacing Novak Djokovic. With Rafael Nadal out of the Italian Open due to a hip condition and Novak Djokovic dealing with an elbow injury, Alcaraz is quickly positioning himself as the French Open favorite.

Alcaraz was thrilled with his victory, saying, “To lift the trophy here in Madrid. In my country. It is always special to play and to be able to do a good result here and be a champion is so special. In front of my home crowd, my family, my friends. Everyone is close to me. For me, it is a special feeling that I will never forget.”

Despite the difficult battle against Struff, Alcaraz maintained a cheerful and focused attitude. “I told myself I had to be positive all the time and that I would have my chances, and I think I did it in the third set,” he explained.

The final was also important for Struff since he became the first lucky loser to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final. Despite putting up a good fight against Alcaraz, he was unable to win.

Alcaraz’s latest victory reinforces his status as one of the world’s most promising young tennis players. Fans should expect even more success from him in the future, based on his remarkable track record and continuing progress.