Alcaraz struggles but in the end Struff folds: after Barcelona he also confirms himself in Madrid

MADRID – It was not easy, but in the end Carlos Alcaraz he made it. Against an opponent who was not the most anticipated finalist, the German Jan-Lennard Struff, wrought with a dose of commitment higher than expected. Finally folded on 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the final of the Madrid tournament that the Spaniard is the only one to have won, confirming the success of the previous year. As alone Rafael Nadal in the past. But considering the Barcelona-Madrid double, Alcaraz remains the only one capable of repeating himself two years in a row both in one tournament and in the other. The next challenge is to become the second player to win in Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Rome, like only Rafa before him.

But in the meantime Manolo Santana of the Caja Mágica was tough on the court, against the first “lucky looser”, eliminated in the qualifying session and then recovered, to reach the final of a Masters 1000. Struff made his record even more credible by taking advantage of Alcaraz’s mistakes , coming within 2 points of 2-4 before losing the first set. Snatching the second set, only to give in with an honorable 6-3 in the third. “It’s very special to have won in my country” comments Alcaraz at the end, “in front of my fans. I’ll never forget it. Struff used very aggressive strokes, I had to wait for my chances because I often failed to make the my game. I said to myself “be positive, opportunities will come for you”.