Real Madrid CF congratulated Carlos Alcaraz for winning his first Masters title in Miami. On Sunday, the 18-year-old Alcaraz defeated world No. 7 Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4 in the Miami Masters final. Not only did Alcaraz win his first Masters title, but he also made tennis history. Alcaraz is now the youngest champion in the history of the Miami tournament. “Well done, @alcarazcarlos03. We are proud that a great madridista like you has won the Miami Masters 1000 in such a brilliant way, becoming the first Spaniard and the youngest tennis player in history to do so. Congratulations!”, said the tweet from Real Madrid. “The first of many to come, for sure!” Rafael Nadal tweeted. In Indian Wells, Alcaraz reached his first Masters semi-final before losing to Nadal. Two weeks later, Alcaraz lifted his first Masters title. “I have no words to describe what I feel right now,” Alcaraz said after winning his first Masters title. “It’s very special to win my first Masters 1000 here in Miami. I have an amazing team with me and my family… I am very happy with the win and with my team.” Alcaraz found himself down 4-1 in the first set, but with breaks in the seventh and eleventh games he turned the deficit around and took the first set.
Blake pays tribute to Rafa Nadal
Former World No. 4 James Blake was recently asked to combine certain components from past and present players’ games to create an “unbeatable player”. The American picked Rafael Nadal’s mentality, Novak Djokovic’s backhand and return, and Roger Federer’s forehand, among other shots. “There’s so many mentally tough players … but I just think what he’s (Rafael Nadal) done mentally, the way he, I mean you’ve never seen him once smash a racket on court. You’ve never seen him get down on himself to the point where it seems like it affects the next point, you don’t see him getting onto people’s faces,” Blake said. “He’s extremely excited, he’s pumped up and he’s the guy that in the first round of a tournament, in the final of a tournament, looks like he is competing for every single point. Down 40-love in the first game, he might make a great shot and give a fist pump in the first round against a guy he’s gonna end up beating 2 and 2.” Blake had no qualms picking Federer’s forehand, which is widely regarded as one of the best shots in tennis history. “Forehand I got to go with Roger I think,” he said.Ā