Carlos Alcaraz claims Barca crown after two epic matches in one day
Teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz saw off compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta in the final to lift the Barcelona Open – his second match of the day and third title of an already remarkable 2022.
The title win in Barcelona follows triumphs at both the Rio Open and the Miami Masters, where Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest ever Miami Open champion and third youngest Masters-level winner in history.
The 18-year-old Spaniard won comfortably in straight sets against the eighth seed Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2 in the final, meaning the man from Murcia has won all four of his ATP finals in straight sets.
The win was all the more remarkable given that due to rain delays, Alcaraz had played his semi-final earlier in the day. The final four match was a mammoth three hours and 40 minutes as he beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur (4)6-7, 7-6(4), 6-4, saving two match points in the process.
Speaking post-match, Carlos Alcaraz discussed how he was able to be in the best shape for the final following his semi-final epic and how he was able to raise his game to claim a fourth ATP title.
“I couldn’t have finished the tournament in a better way. I wasn’t that tired after the semi-final. I had less recovery time, but I took it as a challenge to come out stronger in the final.
“To recover I did a bit of cycling, I ate and I took a little nap to be ready.
“In the semi-final I always thought it was possible to come back. Thanks to my perseverance I was able to improve and find my level.
“In the end it is about trying, failing and improving, and thanks to this I raised my level in the semi-finals and then in the final.”
Carlos Alcaraz continued as he admitted that his winning mentality stems from his upbringing.
He added, “The competitive and winning gene that I have comes from my family. They have always insisted on it and I think that you always have to go for it. I always think of giving everything and that is what I have done today.
“I don’t have any limits, I don’t want to set any. I want to continue playing at the level I have and I think that if I continue like this I have many options to continue climbing.
“From a young age they instilled in me that finals are not played. They are won.”
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