In October 2005, Rafael Nadal played in the final of the Madrid Masters at 19 years and five months. That great run was enough to keep Rafa as the youngest Madrid Masters finalist (and champion) until this week when he lost the honor to his incredible compatriot Carlos Alcaraz! Carlos scored four victories to advance into the final clash at Caja Magica and become the youngest Madrid Masters finalist at 19 years and three days. Alcaraz is through into the second Masters 1000 final at such a young age, writing history books and setting the title clash against a two-time Madrid Masters winner Alexander Zverev. Carlos took down Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round and prevailed over Cameron Norrie to enter the quarter-final. A teenager took down his idol Rafael Nadal 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 for a place in the semis. Carlos saved six out of nine break points and grabbed four return games from five opportunities to control the scoreboard and remain on the title course.
The youngster overpowered the veteran with 37 winners and 31 unforced errors, dictating the pace and showing his incredible skills in sets one and three. Nadal got broken three times in the opening set and bounced back in the second after Alcaraz’s ankle injury. The youngster started all over in the decider, barely lost a point behind the initial shot and delivered a single break in game four to emerge at the top. Carlos took down another giant, Novak Djokovic, in the semi-final and became the first player with wins over Rafa and Novak at the same tournament! It was an epic battle at Caja Magica, and Alcaraz prevailed 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 in three hours and 35 minutes to advance into the final as the youngest player at this event. The Spaniard defended five out of six break points and grabbed two breaks from ten opportunities. Carlos was the more aggressive player, and he stayed calm in the second set’s closing stages to remain in contention against world no. 1.
Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest Madrid Masters finalist ahead of Rafael Nadal.
Novak had the upper hand in the opening set once he pulled the break back, serving well and winning the tie break 7-5 for an early advantage. Carlos fended off a break point with a powerful serve at 4-4 in the second set and another at 5-5 after forcing Novak’s mistake at the net. Alcaraz broke at 15 in the 12th game with a forehand down the line winner to steal the set and force a decider after two hours and seven minutes. Djokovic survived three break points in the final set’s fourth game and two more at 2-3 to remain in touch. Carlos fended off a break chance in game seven with a service winner, and Novak had a massive opportunity to open three break chances at 4-4. He missed a routine forehand, and Alcaraz held at 30 for an enormous boost. The Serb denied a match point in game ten with a service winner and closed it with a service winner after four deuces.
Both players served well in games 11 and 12 to set a deciding tie break. Novak sprayed a forehand error in the second point to fall 2-0 behind and claimed the third point after catching Carlos’ drop shot. Alcaraz moved 3-1 ahead with a backhand down the line bullet, and Djokovic pulled the mini-break back with a volley winner at the net in the fifth point. The Spaniard pulled the trigger in the sixth point to open a 4-2 gap, and the Serb claimed the next one with a service winner to stay in touch. Carlos opened a 5-3 lead with a good serve, and Novak reduced the deficit with a deep return that kept him in touch. Djokovic sprayed a forehand mistake in the tenth point to face two match points. He saved the first with a service winner, and Carlos seized the second with a forehand down the line winner to celebrate an epic victory!