Alcaraz seals stunning Croatia Open triumph
Eighteen-year-old Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest ATP Tour champion since 2008 with victory over Richard Gasquet in Umag, Croatia.
Carlos Alcaraz won his first of possibly many ATP Tour titles on Sunday with an emphatic victory over Richard Gasquet at the Croatia Open.
The 6-2 6-2 win in Umag meant 18 year-old Alcaraz became the youngest tour-level champion since Kei Nishikori won at Delray Beach in 2008, also aged 18.
Despite his tender years, seventh seed Alcaraz was too hot to handle for Gasquet, the highly-rated Spaniard cruising past his significantly more experienced opponent in one hour and 17 minutes.
"I had a lot of good moments in this tournament. I beat five great tennis players," Alcaraz said. "I think that I grew up a lot in this tournament and I keep a lot of experience from this tournament. It's going to be useful for the future."
Gasquet, who needed more than three hours to overcome Daniel Altmaier in the last four, was hoping to win his first tour title since 's-Hertogenbosch in 2018.
"It was tough for me to play [with] full intensity. I had a tough match yesterday. It was tough, and especially with a guy like Carlos, who is playing really fast with a lot of energy and spin," Gasquet said.
"He’s playing unbelievable. He’s only 18 and of course he has a great future and I just couldn’t play at his level and his intensity.
"That was the key of the match and he didn't lose a point. He played well, very solid. He's a great player."
