Carlos Alcaraz Claims First Indoor Title With Rotterdam Open Triumph

Carlos Alcaraz has added another milestone to his ever-growing tennis résumé—his first indoor title.

The 21-year-old Spaniard conquered the Rotterdam Open on Sunday, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a thrilling final. This victory makes Alcaraz the first Spaniard to win the tournament in its 52-year history. It also marks his 17th ATP Tour title, surpassing his coach and former world No. 1, Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Breaking Barriers on Indoor Courts

“I knew I could play really good tennis indoors; it was just a matter of time,” Alcaraz told ATP. “I didn’t have much experience on indoor courts, and there are a lot of players who play better than me in these conditions. But I’m improving, and this was a really important week.”

Despite battling a cold throughout the tournament, Alcaraz pushed through, wearing a strip across his nose to aid his breathing. He showed resilience in three-set matches on three separate occasions, including a hard-fought semifinal victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.

A Hard-Fought Final

Facing de Minaur, who climbed to world No. 6 after the match, Alcaraz started strong. He secured an early break of serve, but a brief lapse saw him drop his own service game at 4-3. However, he quickly regained momentum with a spectacular passing shot, sealing the first set after de Minaur netted a return.

The Australian responded fiercely, storming to a 3-0 lead in the second set and forcing a decider as Alcaraz failed to retrieve a backhand.

With the match finely poised, Alcaraz stepped up in the third set, capitalizing on a crucial mistake from de Minaur, who misfired an approach shot wide. Another break of serve sealed the victory in one hour and 54 minutes, making Alcaraz the first player in 21 years to win the Rotterdam Open on his debut.

A Triumph Through Adversity

In his on-court interview, Alcaraz admitted that he wasn’t at 100% at the start of the week due to illness but felt stronger as the tournament progressed.

Meanwhile, de Minaur, who hadn’t dropped a set in Rotterdam before the final, suffered his second consecutive runner-up finish in the tournament, following last year’s loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

With this victory, Alcaraz continues to prove his versatility across all surfaces—grass, clay, hardcourt, and now, indoor courts. The future looks even brighter for the young Spanish sensation.