Carlos Alcaraz insisted he knew Cameron Norrie “was going to be a really difficult opponent” and said he was happy with the level he delivered in his first final of the season in Buenos Aires. On Sunday, first-seeded Alcaraz ousted second-seeded Norrie 6-3 7-5 to lift his first Buenos Aires title.
After skipping the beginning of the 2023 season due to a knee injury, Alcaraz kicked off his season in Buenos Aires and enjoyed a winning run. “I felt very comfortable playing the final. I knew that it was going to be really difficult.
I started really focused on what I had to do at the beginning, my game, my level. This is the level that I have to play in finals,” Alcaraz said, per the ATP website.
How Alcaraz defeated Norrie?
After the first six games of the match, not a single break point was seen as Alcaraz and Norrie were tied to three games apiece.
Then, Alcaraz earned his first break points in the seventh game and broke Norrie for a 4-3 lead. Leading 5-3 in the first set, Alcaraz broke Norrie again in the ninth game – when the second-seeded Briton was serving to stay in the opener.
After winning the last four games of the first set, Alcaraz also started the second set with an early break and a 3-0 lead. With Alcaraz 6-3 5-2 up, it appeared that Alcaraz would seal a pretty routine win. But then in the ninth game – when Alcaraz was serving for the match – Norrie earned his first break points and broke back the Spaniard.
Then, Norrie also served out the 10th game to tie the second set to five games apiece. Fortunately for Alcaraz, he was able to serve out the 11th game and end Norrie’s run of three consecutive games won. In the 12th game – when Norrie was serving to stay in the final – Alcaraz broke the Briton and that’s how he completed a straight-set win. Alcaraz is now set to defend his Rio de Janeiro title.
