Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz edged a tight final against Australia’s Alex de Minaur to win the Rotterdam Open and claim the first indoor hardcourt title of his career.
It was a 17th ATP title for the 21-year-old top seed but his first since winning in Beijing in September.
The four-time Grand Slam winner had to fight hard for the victory after third seed De Minaur won the second set to take the match into a decider.
But a break of serve for Alcaraz in the sixth game of the final set proved decisive and he went on to win the next two games to seal a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory.
The reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, who also claimed the US Open in 2022, has won grand slam titles on all three outdoor surfaces.
Alcaraz’s latest success, in his first tournament back following defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-finals, added another string to his bow.
At the Dallas Open in Texas, Denis Shapovalov beat second seed Casper Ruud 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to secure the third, and biggest, ATP title of his career.
Canadian Shapovalov, 25, also defeated top seed Taylor Fritz and third seed Tommy Paul on his way to the final.
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