This is the best week of my life – Carlos Alcaraz

 

Last week, Young Tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz defeated the two best players in the history of the game – Rafael Nadal (quarterfinals) and Novak Djokovic (semifinal) – and then bested the World no.3 Alexander Zverev in the final of the Madrid Open. Alcaraz could not have asked for anything better and feels this is the best week of his life.

Alcaraz defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev by 6-3, 6-1 to win his second ATP Masters 1000 title in the ongoing season. The Spaniard has become the second youngest to win two ATP Masters 1000 titles since Rafael Nadal achieved the same milestone after winning in Rome and Madrid when he was only 18.

Earlier, he became the first player to beat both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the same event on clay.

“It feels great to be able to beat these players. To beat two of the best players in history and then Zverev, the World No. 3. He is a great player. I would say this is the best week of my life,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. “I am 19 years old, which I think is the key to be able to play long and tough matches in a row. I am feeling great physically.”

Alcaraz has a 28-3 record in the ongoing season as he has been at his absolute best. The youngster recalled watching Rafael Nadal lift the same trophy gave him a lot of inspiration.

“Watching Rafa lift this trophy gave me a lot of power to work hard for this moment,” Alcaraz added. “It is a great moment for me. It is the first tournament I watched, so lifting the trophy today is so emotional.”

Zverev on the other hand rated Alcaraz as currently the best player in the world.

“I want to congratulate Carlitos. Right now you are the best player in the world,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “It is great for tennis that we have such a new superstar that is going to win so many Grand Slams, that is going to be World No. 1 and I think is going to win this tournament many more times.”

Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Italian Open to be 100% for the French Open.