Tennis | Alcaraz triumphs in Oeiras and enters the top-100 for the first time

Carlos Alcaraz placeholder image continues to burn stages in tennis at breakneck speed. At just 18 years old, having completed his first match against Rafa Nadal at the last Mutua Madrid Open, the ward of Juan Carlos Ferrero has already achieved what many yearn for during his tennis career: enter the top-100 of the ATP ranking. Alcaraz achieved it this Saturday by conquering the tournament Challenger de Oeiras 3 against Argentine Federico Bagnis, who he beat by a double 6-4 in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Alcaraz started the game as his idol Nadal used to do in the past, with a break in favor. Thanks to his dominance from the back of the track, both from the drive and the backhand, Carlos managed the break in his second chance to leave the first set on track, consolidating the break with the serve. The consistency of Murcia, which alternated fabulous winners with bulk errors, continues as one of his pending assignments, but his good reading of the game gave him a positive balance.

Equality prevailed in the second set. Carlos took advantage by breaking in the seventh game, but later failed to consolidate it by losing his serve. But the reaction was immediate. Enraged, the Murcian did not miss his second option to close the match by chaining the last two games of it. Fourth Challenger category title for Alcaraz(after Trieste, Barcelona and Alicante), which next Monday, with 815 points, will appear among the top 100 in the ATP ranking for the first time in his career, as well as the youngest of them all.

“Very happy to win the Oeiras Open and to be among the top-100. Thanks to all of you who are supporting me every day,” the young Murcian said on his Twitter at the end of the match. Next stop: the preliminary phase of Roland Garros (May 24-28). One more step towards stardom.