STARNBERG, July 24, 2018

15-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is the European Champion Sub’16 after beating Elmer Moller of Denmark 6-4 6-3 in the final played on Monday in Moscow. The teenager from Murcia came to Russia after recently proclaimed “Cadet champion” of Spain, only one year after winning the “Infant tournament”.

Alcaraz is the sixth Spaniard to win the continental title in the boys’ category 16 & under and has been part of the Spanish National Team MAPFRE under 14 that won the Copa del Sol and the Winter Cup last year.

First ATP-Ranking points

By the age of 14, Alcaraz claimed his first ATP-ranking points after reaching the quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit in Murcia in February. Alcaraz beat two-time ATP Challenger winner Federico Gaio of Italy as well as 19-year-old Russia Nikita Tatyanin before falling to Spanish veteran Sergio Guiterrez-Ferrol in the stage of the final eight.

“It has been a tough season with a lot of tournaments but I am also very happy that I could win that many matches,” Alcarez commented after his triumph in Moscow. “My intention is to focus more on the ITF under 18 tournaments (Spain will have 13 tournaments in this category in 2019, more than any other country in Europe), of which I have already played some. In fact I am World No. 120 in this category and my goal is to play the Australian Open in the juniors category.”

Carles Vicens, coach of the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET), accompanied the young players in Russia and defines Alcaraz as a “competitive and brave player.”

“He is a great person, who also listens in order to improve. Technically he is quick and intuitive. He has a lot of talent, although he still has many things to work on,” Vicens said.