Alcaraz revels in 'amazing' triumph over Korda
Carlos Alcaraz rounded off a superb 2021 by claiming the ATP Next Gen Finals title with a straight-sets victory over Sebastian Korda.
Alcaraz produced a performance in keeping with a breakthrough year for the Spaniard, prevailing 4-3 (7-5) 4-2 4-2 in Milan.
It marked Alcaraz's 32nd tour-level win of a year that also saw him reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The 18-year-old is the youngest player to claim 32 wins in a year since 1992, when Andrei Medvedev achieved the feat at 18.
Alcaraz faced five break points in his first two service games but had to stave off just one more the rest of the way.
He did fall 0-30 behind when serving for the match, yet Korda could not deny Alcaraz his second Tour title of the year.
"It is amazing," Alcaraz said. "To be able to win this tournament means a lot to me.
"I am so excited right now and emotional. I was very, very nervous at the start.
"I had to be calm to save the break points. I know Korda is serving very well, so I had to play my best in those moments.
"It went 0-30 on my serve. So I had to be focused in that moment and I had to stay calm. It was really, really tough."
