BARCELONA: World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to successfully defend his title at Barcelona Open, an ATP500 event, on Sunday.
Reigning US Open champion Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-4 against World No.5 Tsitsipas in an hour and 19 minutes to clinch his third title of the season and ninth overall in his career.
“It is incredible,” Alcaraz told atptour.com after his win. “To feel this energy and lift the trophy in Barcelona in front of my family and friends, and most members of my team are here as well. Playing this level and to lift the trophy in front of them is a good feeling for me.”
The Spanish teenager now holds a 4-0 head-to-head advantage over the 24-year-old Greek who was looking for his first Barcelona title on his third appearance in the summit clash.
In a battle of the top two seeds, Alcaraz dropped serve in the third game of the opening set but bounced back to break Tsitsipas in the next game. He broke the Greek again the eighth game before successfully holding serve to clinch the first set in 38 minutes.
Alcaraz broke Tsitsipas in the fifth game of the second set and that proved enough to seal the win. Agencies
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