Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first title of the season in Rotterdam. The 21-year-old conquered his first indoor ATP title and lifted his first trophy since last year’s Beijing Open. The Spaniard completed ATP titles on all four surfaces.
He achieved that at the younger age than Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Despite his recent success, Alcaraz is eager to work even harder! His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, does not want his player to rest on his laurels.
Ferrero praised Alcaraz’s talent while highlighting more room for improvements in different areas. Juan Carlos would love to see the four-time Major winner performing with more consistency and improved mental strength.
La mascotte de Rotterdam elle est trop fan de Carlos Alcaraz 🤣
On aurait tous fait la mêmepic.twitter.com/zH5NRocldh
— TennisTemple (@tennistemple) February 9, 2025
Carlos started the season at the Australian Open and lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final. The Spaniard entered Rotterdam as the top seed and bested three rivals in three sets, playing at a high level when it mattered the most.
World no. 3 ousted Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-final and arranged the title clash with Alex de Minaur. Seeking his first indoor ATP title, Alcaraz scored a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win in an hour and 54 minutes, celebrating and entering history books.
Carlos Alcaraz, Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot
The younger player performed better behind the second serve. He suffered two breaks and delivered four breaks to bring the victory home. Alex outplayed world no. 3 from the baseline. However, he hit fewer service winners and lost the ground in the decider.
The Spaniard was off to a great start. He served well and landed a forehand in the third game of the duel for a 4-2 advantage in no time. However, the Aussie recovered his game and pulled the break back at 3-4, returning to the positive side.
Carlos Alcaraz, Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot
Speaking about mental improvements and maintaining a high level, Carlos made another push on the return at 4-4 and landed a backhand down the line winner for a break and another advantage. World no. 3 wrapped up the first set with a service winner in game ten.
Eager to move a step further than a year ago, de Minaur played better in the second set. He seized the second break chance in the second game for the advantage and created two more break points at 3-0. Alcaraz denied them and stayed within one break deficit.
Carlos Alcaraz, Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot
Alex saved a break point in the seventh game with a forehand winner and closed it for 5-2. He provided another hold in game nine, taking the set 6-3 and introducing a decider after an hour and 13 minutes. Carlos made a fresh start in the final part of the duel.
He wasted a break point in the second game and opened a 3-2 gap after a deuce in game five. The Spaniard stepped in on the return and generated break chances with a backhand winner. The top seed seized the first after the rival’s backhand error, building the crucial advantage.
Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot
Carlos moved 5-2 up with a service winner in game seven and provided another break at 5-2 to emerge at the top and celebrate his first indoor ATP title. In the absence of Jannik Sinner, world no. 3 will lead the field at next week’s ATP 500 event in Doha.
“There is always room for improvement, especially at 21. Carlos is a super-talented player, but he still has much to improve mentally and in terms of consistency during matches. That’s the good thing: we have an obvious motivation and objectives Carlos is aware of,” Juan Carlos Ferrero said.
Tennis World USA