Carlos Alcaraz completed an outstanding week in Vienna by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour and 27 minutes. The victory gave the Spaniard his first title at the Wiener Stadthalle, his fourth trophy of the season and the second since his return from a four-and-a-half-month absence caused by a wrist injury.

Alcaraz had already won in Tokyo on October 6 after returning to competition. His run in Vienna provided rhythm, confidence, consistency and enjoyment as he prepares for the final major challenges of the season. The 23-year-old entered the tournament despite initially not planning to compete there and finished the week looking increasingly sharp both physically and competitively.

The final was largely controlled by Alcaraz. De Minaur, whose movement is one of his main strengths, struggled early and lost his serve twice before he could settle. His effort in a three-set semifinal against Alexander Zverev the previous day appeared to weigh on him, while Alcaraz used his speed and variety to dictate the exchanges.

De Minaur improved in the second set and offered more resistance, but Alcaraz maintained his level and closed out the match without allowing the Australian to turn the contest around. The Spaniard combined power with touch, movement and an ability to vary his shot selection, producing the kind of tennis that has made him one of the most distinctive players on the circuit.

The Vienna title is Alcaraz’s 28th of his career, moving him ahead of David Ferrer’s 27 trophies and leaving him within reach of Manolo Orantes, who won 34. Only Orantes and Rafael Nadal, with 92 titles, have more among Spanish men’s players.

Alcaraz has now won four ATP 500 titles this season and has extended his winning streak in the category to 26 matches. He has also reached 37 elite-level finals, winning 75.6% of them. Sinner is the only player to defeat him in a final this year, doing so in Monte Carlo in April.

The victory also places Alcaraz among the season’s leading champions. Sinner has six titles, while Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Ben Shelton have four each. His next objectives are the Paris indoor event, the ATP Finals in Turin from November 15 to 23, and the Davis Cup in Bologna from November 24 to 29.

Beyond the immediate result, Vienna offered Alcaraz a renewed sense of belief after a difficult year. His second indoor title, following Rotterdam in 2025, suggests that this surface may become an increasingly productive part of his game as he continues to refine his serve and regain his best physical and mental level.

Sources: El País Deportes.