Alcaraz wins Madrid Open Atletico closes in on League spot
SPANISH teenager Carlos Alcaraz won his second ATP Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open after defeating defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-1 in front of his home crowd on Sunday.
Alcaraz looked dangerous throughout his run at the claycourt tournament, where he stunned 21-times major winner Rafa Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic before cruising past world number three Zverev in the title clash.
The 19-year-old is the youngest player since start of the ATP Tour in 1990 to defeat three top-five players at the same event.
“It feels great to be able to beat these players. To beat two of the best players in history and then Zverev, the world number three. He is a great player,” said Alcaraz, who did not face a break point against the German.
“I would say this is the best week of my life. I am 19 years old, which I think is the key to be able to play long and tough matches in a row. I am feeling great physically.”
Ranked 120 in the world just a year ago, Alcaraz will rise to a career-high no. 6 in the new rankings.
“I want to congratulate Carlitos. Right now you are the best player in the world,” Zverev said.
MADRID - A first-half penalty by Yannick Carrasco earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory in a fiery derby clash against champions Real Madrid on Sunday, as the hosts tightened their grip on a place in next season’s Champions League.
Diego Simeone’s side remain fourth in the standings on 64 points, six clear of Real Betis in fifth, and with three games left to play they edged closer to a top-four finish, to qualify for Europe’s top club competition.
Atletico next travel to Elche on Wednesday, following which they have a tough run-in with games against third-placed Sevilla and sixthplaced Real Sociedad.
Real, who lost only four LaLiga games this season, host relegation-threatened Levante on Thursday.