It took him just 50 minutes to become the Qatar ExonMobil Champion and lift the 26th title of his career.
I’m just playing great tennis and I’m very happy with this week. This trophy means a lot to me. Carlos Alcaraz
He secured an emphatic 6-2 6-1 win, leaving a stunned Arthur Fils reeling after the Spaniard’s strike. He smashed his racket in utter frustration when it broke and went 3-0 down in the second set.
The 22-year-old world number 1 showed signs of surpassing the Frenchman 20 days after securing the Australian Open title, becoming the youngest player to achieve a Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors.
“I came into this year hungry for more,” said Alcaraz, who is now undefeated for the season and on a 12-math winning streak. “I think we just have to set new goals after every tournament. I’m just really happy and proud of everything I’ve done with my team, both on and off the field.”
“It was a very strong start to the year. It wasn’t easy… I had to be mentally strong with my team. I’m just playing great tennis and I’m very happy with this week. This trophy means a lot to me.”
He was always interested in making his second appearance in Doha to improve on his quarter-final loss to Jiri Lehecka last year, and he certainly did that.
His run to the final had its tricky moments and fans expected the final to be a lot more exciting, but he struck early and never allowed Fils to gain any foothold to offer him a challenge.
(Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The 21-year-old Frenchman tried to take his game to the next level to counter Alcaraz’s athleticism and coverage on the pitch by luring him into the starting rallies, but the top player always found an answer.
Fils had only recently returned to the tour after an eight-month layoff due to a back injury and was playing only his third tournament in his comeback, reaching the quarter-finals of the Montpellier Open.
During his run in Doha he defeated Jiri Lehecka and Jakob Mensik in the last two rounds, so he was in a confident mood, but suffered one of the quickest defeats he has ever experienced in a final.
“It’s been a long eight months with my injury,” Fils said by way of explanation. “So at a time like this you have to think about the last eight months when I was struggling and not playing tennis. I just want to thank my team… Today wasn’t the day, but I think we did a great job.”
Winner Carlos Alcaraz and runner-up Arthur Fils share a moment after the presentations
(Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
The victory is Alcaraz’s ninth title at ATP Tour 500 level and equals Andy Murray’s tally, putting them in fourth place in that respective table, behind the Big Three with Novak Djokovic at 14, Rafa Nadal at 15 and Roger Federer at 16. But Alcaraz has plenty of time to join them in the coming years.
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