Seven-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 to win the Vienna Open on Sunday, defeating his opponent for the seventh time in as many meetings.
Alcaraz has beaten the Australian on grass and clay, as well as on indoor and outdoor hard courts.
He sealed the victory with trademark panache. Alcaraz drew his opponent to the net with a sliced backhand drop shot. De Minaur retrieved it, but Alcaraz lobbed him with a backhand. After the Australian volleyed that shot back near the net, Alcaraz clipped a cross-court forehand that landed just in.
The second-seeded Spaniard looked jubilant and broke into a broad smile after clinching his fourth title this year, which included the Australian Open to complete a career Grand Slam. It was his 28th title overall.
“I tried to be aggressive and show him that if he wants to win, he has to play better, more aggressive, more solid, and be smarter than me,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just really happy that at the end I found my way, played great. Obviously, it has been a really emotional and amazing week for me.”
Alcaraz regaining full fitness
Alcaraz is returning to full fitness after being hampered by injury and fatigue this season.
The fifth-seeded De Minaur was looking for his second title of the year. He reached the final of the ATP 500 event with a semifinal win over Alexander Zverev, who goes top of the rankings on Monday. Alcaraz beat Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal.