Alcaraz defeated World No. 5 Tsitsipas in 79 minutes despite dropping serve in the third game of the match.
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In a championship match at the ATP 500, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to cap off an ideal week at the Barcelona Open. The home favourite dominated Pista Rafa Nadal, combining fierce ballstriking, deft forehand drop shots, and inspired defence to win 6-3, 6-4 and win his ninth tour-level title. Alcaraz defeated World No. 5 Tsitsipas in 79 minutes despite dropping serve in the third game of the match. Alcaraz displayed no signs of nervousness in front of his home crowd.
“It is incredible,” Alcaraz said. “To feel this energy and lift the trophy in Barcelona in front of my family and friends, and most members of my team are here as well. Playing this level and to lift the trophy in front of them is a good feeling for me.”
Alcaraz took control of the fifth all-Top 10 ATP Tour final of 2023 after Tsitsipas broke early for a 2-1 lead. In the second set, he continued to dazzle the home crowd with some exceptional shotmaking, and a lone break in the fifth game was enough to win the match and the title without dropping a set all week.
“Me and my team were talking before the match about staying relaxed,” said Alcaraz. “To want to play the tough moments. Staying relaxed is the most important part for me. To forget the mistakes, everything and be myself on court. Not to think about all the people watching, but just me, the court, the racquet and the final.”
Alcaraz moved up to third place in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin by winning his third ATP Tour title of 2023 (Buenos Aires, Indian Wells). Jannik Sinner had previously held that position. As he tries to regain the top spot in the world, the No. 2-ranked Spaniard also reduced the distance from Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings to 365 points. Tsitsipas advanced to his third final in Barcelona by defeating Denis Shapovalov, Alex de Minaur, and Lorenzo Musetti. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2018 and 2021 finals. The Greek has a current record of 21-5 for the year and advanced to the Australian Open final in January.
In the quarterfinals of the Srpska Open in Banja Luka on Friday, Dusan Lajovic stunned top seed Novak Djokovic with a crucial display on his serve, becoming the first player to defeat a World No. 1 in history. Despite only winning four games in their previous two encounters, the 32-year-old Lajovic prevailed 6-4, 7-6(6) after surviving 15 of 16 break points. In the second set tie-break, Lajovic averted three set points.
“I’m overwhelmed, it is the biggest win of my career,” Lajovic said in his on-court interview. “The emotions are very mixed because I’m playing here in front of the home town and I’m also playing against Nole who is a good friend and he’s a hero of our country. Beating him, it’s something that I didn’t even think is going to be possible, but it happened.”
