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Carlos Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday in Buenos Aires to win the seventh title of his career.
A small step for Carlos Alcaraz, a big step for his aura. Walking on the ground of Buenos Aires, the Spaniard has once again demonstrated that he comes from another planet. Not for the performance itself, no.
The Argentine Open belongs to the ATP 250 category. Far from the prestige of the Grand Slam events that he has not hidden his desire to collect. But by winning 6-3, 7-5 against Cameron Norrie, “Carlitos” has undoubtedly marked the minds, and the competition.
SEVENTH TITLE FOR ALCARAZ
In addition to winning his seventh title in nine finals at the age of 19, the winner of the 2022 US Open has – above all – achieved this performance in his first tournament back. After three months without an official match due to injuries. A task far from easy, even for the greatest.
Last year, deprived of the Australian Open, the monumental Novak Djokovic had difficulty finding his rhythm. Following two and a half months without competition, he had notably lost against Jiří Veselý quarterfinals in Dubai against Jiří Veselý in the quarterfinals in Dubai, and then in front of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from the very beginning of the competition in Monte Carlo.
ALCARAZ STIFLED NORRIE, BEFORE EXPERIENCING A MOMENT OF FEVERISHNESS TO CONCLUDE
The world number 1 of the 2023 season further affirmed this given, and not quite rational, feeling of not being able to lose against supposedly inferior opponents.In contrast to other, yet very strong players, such as Stéfanos Tsitsipás, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud – a non-exhaustive list – of whom one might think ahead of a match against a rival like Norrie: “the Briton can pose problems.”
Alcaraz, despite his prolonged absence, made short work of him. With his heavy strokes, his early grip on the ball, his variations, his drop shots and the intensity imposed, he cooked the world’s 12th-ranked player to a standstill. Until 6-3, 5-2.
THE ART OF CLOSING OUT IN STYLE
At that point, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protégé showed that he was finally human. At 6-3, 5-3, when he was serving for the title, he “gave back” the break. On a double fault, at 30-40. Not that it bothered him too much. At least on the outside. With a straight face, he closed out the match a few games later with one of his favorite shots: the drop shot.
After his first title since his debut at Flushing Meadows, Carlos Alcaraz is scheduled to compete in the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro next week. After that, he will head to the North American tour, with a crown to defend in Miami. Where, a year ago, he began to walk in giant steps by offering his first Masters 1000.
