Carlos Alcaraz beat Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-2 in one hour and six minutes to win the final at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Alcaraz lifted his ATP Tour title this season following his triumphs in Rio de Janeiro and at the Miami Open.
Alcaraz is projected to climb to world number 9 in the ATP Ranking next week. The 18-year-old rising star becomes the youngest player to break into the top 10 since Rafael Nadal won the Barcelona title in 2005.
Alcaraz needed 3 hous and 40 minutes to beat Alex De Minaur in the longest best-of-three match of the season. Alcaraz saved two match points and had a foot issue that required medical assistance.
Alcaraz did not face a break point in the final and converted four of his ten break points.
Alcaraz earned the first break of the match, as Carreno Busta missed a forehand long at 2-2. The 2021 Next Gen Finals champion sealed the first set with a second break on set point after a short backhand from Carreno Busta. Alcaraz broke twice in the sixth and eighth games to seal the second set 6-2.
Alcaraz made a major breakthrough this year, compared to last year’s edition, when he was ranked world number 119 and lost in the first round against Frances Tiafoe.
Alcaraz is currently tied with Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev with the most titles on the ATP Tour this year.
“It means a lot. I have watched this tournament since I was a kid. I always wished to play in the tournament and of course to be able to win this tournament. I am really happy to be part of the historic Spanish list”, said Alcaraz.
