On Sunday, 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz received the Miami Open, beating Casper Ruud within the closing to change into the youngest winner of the match in its 37-year historical past.

After successful his first Masters 1000 title, Alcaraz was congratulated by his nation’s most well-known tennis participant — 21-time grand slam winner Nadal, who earned his “King of Clay” moniker because of his dominance on Roland Garros’ pink stuff.
“Many congratulations Carlitos in your historic triumph in Miami,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. “The primary of many to come back, for positive.”

Alcaraz was additionally lauded by Spain’s King Felipe VI.

“I used to be extra nervous [for] that decision than the match,” a smiling Alcaraz stated after successful the Miami Open.

“It is fairly superb that the Spanish king congratulates you on the laborious work that you just put each day and your win. It is one thing that you just by no means thought you had been going to obtain, a Spanish king name. It is superb.”

Affect of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

With Nadal and Roger Federer — two of tennis’ best ever gamers — advancing in years, Alcaraz is being tipped to fill their sizeable footwear.
“The reply to the query ‘what occurs when Federer and Nadal retire?’ Carlos Alcaraz,” tweeted tennis commentator David Regulation.

Alcaraz beat world No. 8 Ruud 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 52 minutes within the closing on the Exhausting Rock Stadium, rising to a profession excessive No. 11 on this planet rankings because of this.

The Spanish teenager is coached by compatriot and former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Initially Ferrero had not been on the Miami Open due to the current demise of his father, however shocked Alcaraz by arriving forward of Sunday’s closing.

They first started working collectively in 2018, and Ferrero admitted it did not take him lengthy to appreciate Alcaraz was particular.

“I bear in mind when he was practising with among the gamers that they had been considerably increased within the rankings than him, he was 16 or 17, and he might adapt his sport to the extent of the opposite gamers,” Ferrero stated.

“It signifies that he has one thing and goes to maintain engaged on that and hold working each day. So his potential was there, and I used to be solely [there] to let it move and let it play and hold issues in a great path.

“So it surprises me by no means, however after all it has been very, very quick and really fast, so not straightforward to do it.”

And after changing into the third youngest participant Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Nadal, Alcaraz praised the impression Ferrero has had on him, on and off the court docket.

“Juan Carlos [is a] essential individual for me,” he stated. “Within the skilled facet, on the private facet, he helps me loads in each side. Once we are collectively, we’ll speak about every thing in life, every thing in our sport, about soccer, as nicely.

“Juan Carlos, I think about him a coach and a buddy as nicely. So I can discuss to him about every thing.”

The win continues a wonderful 12 months for Alcaraz — now comprised of 18 wins and simply two losses — and firmly roots himself as the most well liked prospect in tennis.

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