Carlos Alcaraz made a stunning comeback in his first tournament of the year, defeating Cameron Norrie in straight sets to win the Argentina Open on Sunday. The 19-year-old, who had been on a four-month injury lay-off, dominated the match from start to finish, securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory to claim his seventh ATP title.

Norrie, the British number one, had hoped to secure his fifth ATP title but struggled to find his rhythm against the top seed. The 27-year-old took an early lead in the opening set, but Alcaraz responded with a seven-game winning streak to establish a commanding 6-3, 3-0 advantage.

Despite losing the first three games of the second set, Norrie fought back to level the score at 5-5, but Alcaraz held his nerve to take the next game and then broke Norrie to win the match.

Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz said: “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.”

The win marks a significant milestone for the young Spaniard, who won the US Open in 2022 and has quickly established himself as one of the rising stars of men’s tennis. Alcaraz’s performance in Buenos Aires will undoubtedly boost his confidence ahead of the upcoming clay court season.

Norrie, meanwhile, will be disappointed with his performance in the final, but can take heart from a successful start to the year, which has seen him reach the final of two ATP tournaments and climb to a career-high ranking of world number 15.

Despite the loss, Norrie remains a player to watch in the coming months, with his consistent performances and strong work ethic making him a difficult opponent for anyone on the tour. As for Alcaraz, his victory in Buenos Aires confirms his status as one of the most exciting young talents in tennis and suggests that he could be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

Leon Osamor