Carlos Alcaraz has won his first indoor hardcourt title after edging a tight final against Australia’s Alex de Minaur at the Rotterdam Open. The 21-year-old Spanish top seed secured his 17th ATP title, which was his first since winning in Beijing in September.
In a closely contested match, Alcaraz had to fight hard for the victory after De Minaur won the second set, taking the match into a decider. However, a break of serve for Alcaraz in the sixth game of the final set proved decisive, as he went on to win the next two games and seal a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory.
The reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, who also claimed the US Open in 2022, thanked the Rotterdam crowd for a “special week” as he claimed the winner’s prize in his first appearance at the event.
For De Minaur, it was a second successive defeat in the Rotterdam final, after finishing runner-up.
