MADRID/WASHINGTON, May 7, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jan-Lennard Struff chased history from separate sides of the net on Manolo Santana Stadium Sunday evening in the men’s singles final of the ATP Masters 1000 Mutua Madrid Open. One was trying to become the youngest player to successfully defend an ATP Masters 1000 title, while the other was attempting to become just the fourth player and first in more than 20 years to win his first tour-level title at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
After two hours and 25 minutes, it was the No. 1 seed Alcaraz, who joined five-time Madrid champion Rafael Nadal as the only back-to-back winners in Madrid history. The popular, 20-year-old Spaniard from Murcia became the youngest player to successfully defend an ATP Masters 1000 title since Nadal at Monte Carlo and Rome in 2005-06 after defeating the 65th-ranked lucky loser Struff of Germany, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The title victory was the 10th career tour-level title for Alcaraz (10-3), his fourth of the season (3-1) and it was his fourth career ATP Masters 1000 crown (4-0). Just as remarkable, it was Alcaraz’s 21st straight triumph in Spanish clay tournaments. He improved to 19-1 on clay and 29-2 overall in 2023 after striking 24 winners to just 12 unforced errors.
We’re getting used to this 📸@carlosalcaraz | @atptour | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/7gzE6vAFjB
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 7, 2023
With his latest title success, Alcaraz will rise to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings after playing his opening match in Rome.
Going into Sunday’s final, Alcaraz addressed the matter of pressure playing at home, where he has been a popular fan favorite – especially with the absence of Nadal. “I enjoy playing here in Madrid. I always try to make [the fans] happy and myself happy as well,” he said. “I don’t think about the pressure here, I just think about playing a great game, getting good results. It’s a really special place for me, I enjoy every second here. So, that is all I think about.”
Struff, who struck 36 winners against Alcaraz, admitted before taking the court for the title match that his third head-to-head against the current World No. 2 was going to be different than the first two. “We played an amazing match at Wimbledon last year and I was very close to beating him but he pulled off unbelievable shots in the tie-break,” he said. “This is Spain … so it is going to be very tough. I have to go for it, otherwise I will have no chance. I will try my best to beat him and win my first title.”
KING CARLOS II 🏆🏆@carlosalcaraz outlasts Struff to DEFEND his Madrid crown!#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/1PlFHstxhG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 7, 2023
After splitting the first two sets, in which Struff saved five break points during a lengthy, 22-point fifth game in the middle stanza that helped push the title match to a decider, Alcaraz recovered nicely and saved some of his best tennis for when it mattered most. He broke early to go ahead 3-1 in the final set and consolidated at love for a commanding 4-1 lead. Soon, Alcaraz, served out his latest title victory, which came just two days after he celebrated his 20th birthday. He outpointed Struff 99-96.
Despite losing, it was a life-changing week for the 33-year-old Struff, a native of Warstein. He upset No. 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinal round and backed it up with a semifinal victory over Aslan Karatsev, whom he lost to in the final round of qualifying. Struff will climb to a career-best No. 28, and certainly enters the conversation for the French Open, which opens at Stade Roland Garros in Paris in three weeks.
The Struff of Dreams ✨
From losing in qualifying to making the final – @Struffitennis with an unforgettable run in Madrid!#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/8KyrYR4NwN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 7, 2023
As for Alcaraz, there was plenty of celebrating to do with his team. After securing championship point, he clenched his fist in celebration, shouting “Vamos!” over and over. Then, Alcaraz sprinted toward his coach, Juan Carlos Ferraro. Soon, the mentor and his pupil were hugging one another. There would be hugs with other members of Team Alcaraz.
Invincible on home soil for another year 🇪🇸@carlosalcaraz is now assured to go THREE YEARS (2021-2024) unbeaten on Spanish clay!!#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/GklJeE5BWb
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 7, 2023
“For me it is so, so special,” Alcaraz said in a post-match interview. “To lift the trophy here in Madrid. In my country. It is always special to play and to be able to do a good result here and be a champion is so special. In front of my home crowd, my family, my friends. Everyone close to me. For me it is a special feeling that I will never forget.”
😬 Cuando disfrutas como un niño 😬@carlosalcaraz | @atptour | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/SO9QGVU6Gk
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 7, 2023
Azarenka and Haddad Maia win women’s doubles title
Playing together for the first time as a team, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Beatriz Haddad Maia upset the No. 1 seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, both of the United States, 6-1, 6-4, in only 66 minutes to win the Mutua Madrid Open women’s doubles title Sunday afternoon. Haddad Maia, ranked 20th, and Azarenka, 380th, controlled the final from the outset against Gauff (ranked 4th) and Pegula (ranked 3rd). They won six straight games to garner the opening set and outpointed their opponents 60-38. It was the second loss in a title match by Gauff and Pegula in seven finals.
Your 2023 #MMOPEN CHAMPIONS 🎉
🏆 @vika7 x Bia Haddad Maia 🏆 pic.twitter.com/lR497mCSg9
— wta (@WTA) May 7, 2023
By the numbers
• World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won her fifth WTA 1000 title – 13th title overall – and second Madrid title on Saturday with her 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland. Sabalenka, who celebrated her 25th birthday this week, became the fourth woman to win multiple Madrid titles. Her three titles and 29 wins this year both lead the WTA. She is now No. 1 in the Race to the WTA Final, with a 1,600 lead over No. 2 Elena Rybakina.
• Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev are longtime friends. On Saturday, the Russian duo captured their first tour-level doubles title together after beating No. 7 seeds Rohan Bopanna of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia, 6-3, 3-6, 10-3. The singles stars triumphed in 71 minutes after winning 83 percent of their first-serve points. They won match tie-breaks in four of their five matches and en route to the title beat two other seeded teams.
“Quotable …”
“I never would have expected this one to be in the finals after lucky loser. It’s just if you have a second chance, yeah, I try to go for it. Now, I’m here in the finals. It’s just incredible journey and story, here in Madrid, and very, very happy. … You shouldn’t give up and try again, always.”
– Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who went from lucky loser to finalist in the Mutua Madrid Open.
