Carlos Alcaraz ‘now the best player in the world,’ says Alexander Zverev after Madrid thrashing
Alexander Zverev declared Carlos Alcaraz the ‘best player in the world now’ after he was thrashed by the Spaniard in the final of the Madrid Masters.
Zverev was the defending champion, but all the talk beforehand was of Alcaraz, who beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic back-to-back to reach the final.
The 19-year-old took all that pressure and expectation in his stride, though, as he added world number three Zverev to his list of recent scalps to win his fourth title of the season – and his second Masters.
“I want to congratulate Carlitos,” Zverev told Alcaraz after his 6-3, 6-1 win in just 62 minutes. “Right now you are the best player in the world
“It is great for tennis that we have such a new superstar that is going to win so many Grand Slams, that is going to be world number one and I think is going to win this tournament many more times.”
Carlos Alcaraz will rise to a career high number six in the world on Monday, and he agreed he now felt like he belonged among the ATP’s elite.
Completely. In. Command 💪@alcarazcarlos03 can do no wrong at #MMOPEN. pic.twitter.com/5oqqnmoAIy
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 8, 2022
“Last year I came to Madrid to live a new experience and measure myself against the best in the world,” he said. “Today I feel like one of them.”
Alcaraz and Zverev were also in the same half of the draw for the Rome Masters next week, while Nadal and Djokovic are in the other. However, he has opted to withdraw to make sure he is fresh for Roland Garros.
He has also become the youngest player to win two Masters-level events wince Rafael Nadal did in 2005 as an 17-year-old.
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