World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday and clinch his third ATP Tour title of the year and the ninth overall for the 19-year-old.
Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season and was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of his last tournament, the Miami Open, won in Barcelona for the second consecutive year, taking the title without losing a set.
The Spanish teenager beat world number five and second seed Tsitsipas with the same ease that he dispatched every other opponent in Barcelona this week.
Alcaraz, who in December became the youngest year-end world number one since the ATP rankings began, was close to perfection on Sunday and gave a masterclass as he won in less than 80 minutes.
It was Tsitsipas’s fourth consecutive loss to Alcaraz.
“Today I was myself, I was fluid and relaxed. It was the perfect moment to do it and I’m super happy to have delivered it in outstanding fashion,” Alcaraz told TVE.
“Yesterday, before going to sleep I was so tense and woke up today very nervous. However, the warm-up helped me to relax, and I thought I should let my body flow and not be tight.
“I wanted to forget about everything else and just be me on the court. I am still surprised to receive such a warm welcome here in my country, as a 19-year-old kid I could not imagine that I would experience what I’m living wherever I go.” Tsitsipas managed to break Alcaraz in the third game, but the Spaniard hit right back and got another break before closing out the first-set in 38 minutes.
Alcaraz was even more aggressive in the second set as he attacked relentlessly and broke Tsitsipas’s serve in the fifth game. He did not give his opponent a chance to fight back and closed out the match with a powerful forehand before celebrating with the home fans. The next step in the Spaniard’s buildup to the French Open will be the Madrid Masters which starts next Thursday.

Lajovic upsets in-form Rublev in the Banja Luka final
Dusan Lajovic upset the in-form Andrey Rublev in the Banja Luka final on Sunday, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to clinch his second career ATP title.
World number 70 Lajovic, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, snapped Rublev’s eight-match winning run that began with his triumph last week in Monte Carlo.
Lajovic led 5-1 in the deciding set but had to hold off a spirited comeback from Rublev before securing victory after two hours and 32 minutes.
“Honestly it was probably the toughest match I have had in the past six months. I felt drained,” Lajovic said.
“From 5-1 in the third I could not feel my legs and felt a bit dizzy. I knew he was going to fight but somehow I managed to pull it out in the last game. I wasn’t even thinking in the last game.”

Rune saves four match points to secure second Munich title
Holger Rune shrugged off injury and saved four match points in a dramatic third set fightback to defeat Botic van de Zandschulp and claim a second straight ATP Munich title yesterday.
Rune prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3) in a rematch of last year’s decider in Munich which he won when Van de Zandschulp retired with chest pains when leading in the opening set.
Top seeded Rune took the first set comfortably but was blown away in the second.