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Carlos Alcaraz is the Madrid Masters defending champion! The 20-year-old defeated a lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the title clash in Caja Magica to lift his fourth Masters 1000 trophy a couple of days after his birthday.
Alcaraz secured his tenth ATP title and became the second player with back-to-back Caja Magica crowns after his great compatriot Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz will keep 1000 ATP points on his tally on Monday, standing only 5 points behind world no.
1 Novak Djokovic and guaranteeing to pass him if he enters the following week's Rome Masters. Struff came to the main draw as a lucky loser and played his career-best tennis to advance into his second ATP final. The German threw everything he had at the young gun, keeping the points on his tally and standing as a better rival after the opening two sets.
Carlos Alcaraz defended the Madrid Masters title in Caja Magica.
Carlos saved a break point in the third set's third game and gained a boost from there to bring the victory home and secure both home titles (Barcelona & Madrid) for the second straight year.
Alcaraz broke in the encounter's first game and denied a break point in the next one with a service winner to cement the advantage and move 2-0 in front. Jan-Lennard attacked every ball and broke back at love in game four with a backhand down the line winner for 2-2.
Carlos grabbed his second break in game seven after the rival's double fault and served for the opener at 5-4. The young gun trailed 40-0 and stayed calm to erase three break points and claim the opener after a forehand winner.
Struff kept fighting and outplayed the rival with the sheer power of his strokes at the start of the second set. He broke Alcaraz at 15 in game two with a volley winner at the net and held at 15 a few minutes later for 3-0.
The German served in the fifth game and defended five break points, surviving all the challenges and bringing it home after 15 minutes for 4-1. Jan-Lennard produced fine holds in games seven and nine to wrap up the set 6-3 and force a decider.
The Spaniard saved a break point at 1-1 in the final set and gained a boost. Carlos caused Jan-Lennard's volley error in the fourth game to open a 3-1 gap and move closer to the finish line. Alcaraz produced three holds at love in a row and moved over the top with a service winner at 5-3 for a massive celebration.