Carlos Alcaraz emulates Rafael Nadal record with Barcelona Open victory

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his third title of the season by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas to retain the Barcelona Open crown.

The Spaniard, who only turns 20 next month, was virtually flawless in a 6-3, 6-4 win over second-placed Tsitsipas to add to his Buenos Aires and Indian Wells titles.

Alcaraz remains behind Novak Djokovic in the rankings but with the Serb plagued by an elbow problem and having left the Madrid Open and Rafael Nadal struggling to even play on clay as he struggles with a hip injury, the teenager could still be in enter the French Open as a favorite.

It also means Alcaraz is the first player since Nadal to repeat as Barcelona Open champion.

Tsitsipas found no answer to the all-around brilliance of Alcaraz, who missed the start of the season through injury but has since made up for lost time.

After winning his ninth title, Alcaraz said: “It’s incredible. To feel that energy and to lift the trophy in Barcelona in front of my family and friends and most of my team members are here too. Playing that level and lifting the trophy in front of them feels good to me.”

Teenage colleague Holger Rune also successfully defended a title on Sunday. The young Dane prevailed against Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp at the BMW Open in Munich.

After fighting his way back in the second set, fourth-seeded Van De Zandschulp led 5-2 in the decider and served three times for the match but lost 6-4 1-6 7-6 (3) despite four match points . .

Rune, who had to be treated for arm and ankle problems in the third set, said: “I felt really exhausted but I fought to the end and tried everything to get back into the match. We really pushed each other to the limit and I’m super happy that I defended the title today.”

In Banja Luka, meanwhile, there was an emotional title for Serbian Dusan Lajovic, who continued his upset against compatriot Djokovic in the quarterfinals by defeating second-placed Andrey Rublev 6-3 4-6 6-4.

Rublev, who won the biggest title of his career in Monte-Carlo last week, fought back 5-1 in the third set but 70th-placed Lajovic kept his nerve to clinch his second ATP title four years after his first.

Lajovic said: “I’m thrilled and blown away that I made it this week. The last time I was in a final was four years ago and I’ve been through a lot since then.”

Britain’s Jamie Murray won the doubles title in Banja Luka with New Zealand’s Michael Venus, but Neal Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof had to settle for second place in Barcelona, ​​losing to Argentinian duo Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in the crucial tiebreak.