WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz and ball kids go for spectacular pool dive after Barcelona Open win

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
April 24, 2023

The Barcelona Open is associated with a unique and iconic title celebration and Carlos Alcaraz and the ball kids delivered on Sunday after the world No 2 successfully defended his crown.

The teenager made it back-to-back ATP 500 titles in the Spanish city without dropping a set as he brushed aside Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the grand finale on Pista Rafa Nadal.

Alcaraz, who won his ninth ATP Tour singles title, took his incredible record at the tournament to 10-1 while he is now unbeaten in 14 ATP matches on Spanish soil.

The post-match celebrations at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona traditionally mean getting wet. And we don’t mean with champagne, although that is also usually part of the fun.

By wet we mean jumping into the swimming ball with all the ball kinds who were on duty during the event. Alcaraz and this year’s crew delivered in spectacular fashion.

While a two-set win in 79 minutes seemed like an easy win, Alcaraz admitted after the match that it was anything but straightforward.

The Spaniard made a sluggish start as he was broke in game three, but fired back immediately and then claimed a second break in game eight. The nerves disappeared in the second set as he didn’t face a single break point, breaking in game five before serving the match out to love.

“Internally it has not been easy. In the first four or five games I was a bit more nervous than expected, but then I let go and I was able to enjoy [it],” he said.

“The game has not been easy, far from it. Every final I go for everything to impose my rhythm. In the finals the good players are shown and I want to be part of the best in the world.”

Next up for the 19-year-old is another title defence as he looks to become a two-time winner of the Madrid Open.

The defending champion, who has a bye in the first round before facing either Emil Ruusuvuori or Ugo Humbert in the second round, is the clear favourite in the Spanish capital as both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will miss the tournament due to injury.

“I’m going to Madrid to try to win. Not winning it won’t be a failure because that depends on the level I show and the way I play.”

READ MORE: Is Carlos Alcaraz a clay-court specialist or an all-court player? Patrick Mouratoglou has his say…

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Carlos Alcaraz