Alcaraz Hammers Zverev To Win Madrid Masters, Cements Star Status

Carlos Alcaraz just finished the best weekend of his short tennis career and he did it style rolling over defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 to win the Madrid Masters.

Alcaraz, who just won 3 hour epics over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, manhandled the German who was also a multi-champion in Madrid, and it wasn’t even that close in the 62-minute beatdown.

“It feels great to be able to beat these players. To beat two of the best players in history and then Zverev, the World No. 3. He is a great player. I would say this is the best week of my life,” Alcaraz said on court. “I am 19 years old, which I think is the key to be able to play long and tough matches in a row. I am feeling great physically.”

Zverev had now answer at all for the kid he twice beat easily last year. Alcaraz never faced a break point.

“I want to congratulate Carlitos. Right now you are the best player in the world,” Zverev said. “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 No. 1 and I think is going to win this tournament many more times.”

The German was not pleased with the scheduling which saw his semifinal start after 11pm local time last night.

“One thing I have to say is that the ATP’s job was an absolute disgrace this week,” Zverev said. “Two days ago I went to bed at 4:00, 4:30 AM. Yesterday, I went to bed at 5:20 AM. If any normal person goes to bed one night at 4:00 AM, the next night at 5:00 AM, it will be a tough time just to be awake for them.

“And for me to play a final against Carlos Alcaraz, who for me is the best player in the world right now, in a Masters 1000 event, the next day, it is difficult. Today on court, I’m a little bit angry, I would say, because I had no coordination today. I had no coordination on my serve, I had no coordination on my groundstrokes. I missed two overheads that were super easy because I see the ball, and everything is moving in my eyes.”

The newly-minted 19-year-old becomes the youngest to win Madrid and he’s now got five titles including two masters! He’s also 5-0 in finals and he’s won 10 straight and his last seven against Top 10 players.

“Last year I was going through these experiences for the first time, playing against the best players, playing in the Masters 1000, and I learned a lot,” Alcaraz said. “Now it’s different. I go onto the court knowing that I can win, with the confidence that I can win at any moment.”

Alcaraz withdrew from Rome following the title. He’ll now have a full two weeks to prepare for Roland Garros.