Helpless, aimless, without a chance: In the realm of the new clay court king Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev was in a completely lost position. The Olympic champion lost the Madrid final to Spain’s teen sensation 3-6, 1-6 and is still awaiting his first title of 2022.
Zverev was far too slow against the explosive game of the 19-year-old, he couldn’t find a way to counter the drop shots, the 160 km/h forehand and was sometimes demoted to an extra. His third title in Madrid after 2018 and 2021 was never realistic.
Alcaraz will move up from ninth to sixth in the world rankings on Monday. After his fourth title this year at the latest, he is one of the big favorites for the French Open. Zverev, number three in the world, will have to take his game to a whole different level to even come close to the long-awaited first Grand Slam title on the red ashes of Roland Garros.
Alcaraz left no doubt about his ambitions from the start. The high-flyer of the year was quick on his feet, he played powerfully and efficiently and time and again let the sluggish-looking Zverev run into the void, especially with his dreaded drop shots. Zverev seemed dismayed, stood far too far behind the baseline and was simply taken by surprise by the Spaniard’s fast game. After the break to 4:2 and 31 minutes, the first set went to Alcaraz 6:3.
The picture did not change in the second set. Zverev made mistakes after mistakes, his first serve didn’t come, he was too slow, his few net attacks were far too badly prepared, he hardly ever stood properly for the ball. Breaks to 2: 1 and 4: 1 decided the match, Alcaraz led Zverev downright and converted his fourth match ball after just 62 minutes – thanks to a double mistake by Zverev.
Djokovic also takes his hat off to the super talent
The day before, Alcaraz had defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in a breathtaking three-set match and sent his compatriots into a frenzy in the sold-out Caja Magica. “It’s remarkable that someone of his age plays so confidently, so bravely, so determinedly,” said Djokovic: “He more than deserves this win.”
Alcaraz was the first player ever to throw Rafael Nadal and Djokovic out of a tournament on red ashes. “He can achieve anything,” said Nadal, and Alcaraz thinks so too: “I don’t see any limits for myself. I already feel for the top players in every tournament, in every match, on every surface.”
This year, the 19-year-old has eight wins against top ten players on his record, and Alcaraz has been unbeaten on clay for ten matches with his tournament victories in Barcelona and now in Madrid – a more than impressive calling card for the French Open (22 May to June 5).