18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the Miami Open on Sunday, defeating Casper Rudd in the final, becoming the youngest winner of the tournament in its 37-year history.
He also paid tribute to King Philip VI of Spain.
“I was more nervous [for] He said Alcaraz with a smile after winning the Miami Open.
“It’s amazing that the Spanish King congratulates you for the hard work you put in every day and your victory. It’s something you never thought you’d receive, the King of Spain’s call. It’s amazing.”
The influence of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
The Cars beat world number 8 Rudd 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 52 minutes in the final at Hard Rock Stadium, and moved up to 11th in the world rankings as a result.
The young Spaniard is coached by his compatriot and former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Initially Ferrero was not at the Miami Open due to the recent death of his father, but he surprised Alcaraz by reaching the semi-finals on Sunday.
They first started working together in 2018, and Ferrero admitted it didn’t take long to realize Alcaraz was special.
“It means he has something and will continue to work on it and keep working every day. So his potential was there, and I was just [there] To let it flow and let it play and keep things on a good track.
“So it didn’t surprise me at all, but of course it was very fast, very fast, so it wasn’t easy to do.”
Having become the third youngest player to become the Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Nadal, Alcaraz praised Ferrero’s influence on and off the court.
“Juan Carlos, I consider him a coach and a friend as well. So I can talk to him about everything.”
The win continues an excellent year for Alcaraz – who now consists of just 18 wins and two losses – and solidifies himself as the most exciting player in tennis.
