An immense Carlos Alcaraz revalidated his title at the Comte de Godó Trophy. With a tennis book of a thousand pages – now powerful, now subtle, now resounding, now sweet -, the Murcian player beat the Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipàs with authority. With a seamless match and an endless repertoire, Alcaraz took the tournament in a very special edition, the 70th, to round off a perfect week. The youngster from El Palmar lifted the trophy without conceding a single set and commanding the final against a level opponent. He always dictated the meaning of the game and took it to his ground.

Alcaraz entered the court for the warm-up to the rhythm of the main theme of the movie Rocky (Eyes of the tiger), his favorite song, but on the clay of Tennis Barcelona he was rather a Muhammad Ali of the racket Because? Because he moved with the ease of a butterfly and struck with the venom of a wasp; although to reduce his party to power would be to read only part of the work. On the other side of the coin, Alcaraz beat Tsitsipas by stitching him up, especially with his right hand. The Greek knew what was going to happen, but he couldn’t help it. Meanwhile, the Spaniard became an unapproachable giant. He looked for his opponent’s backhand with fruition, but even so it did not become predictable. He could connect a monumental forehand. I could go online. He could throw a balloon.

A needle didn’t fit. While the roars of the Camp Nou were coming, Alcaraz was also roaring. He did it when he got a phenomenal point, one of those with swings, to score the decisive break in the first hose. 5-3 and serve, in which he did not fail. Seven in your pocket in 38 minutes. Not even having been losing 1-2 with a break against had made him show doubts.

And that Tsitsipas tried to break the rhythm with some climbs. And that’s what I was trying to resist. And that he didn’t give up. But Alcaraz tortured him with his wrist control and his iron mentality.

Sometimes the difference between a very good player, like the Greek, and a great tennis player, like the Murcian, is a thin but significant line. It can be measured, for example, in the number of finals won. With Godó, Alcaraz has already won nine titles in twelve finals; while Tsitsipas has won only 9 of his 26 finals. “I was fluid, I was relaxed, I felt the blows a lot, I got the match I wanted. Finals are not played, finals are won; it’s where you show who the best players are and where the competitive gene comes out”, said an insatiable Alcaraz. “I am very ambitious and always want more. This is what I work for every day,” he added.

Four matches and four victories for the Spaniard. The Greek has no choice but to keep trying. He has been very close to success at the Godó three times, but on two occasions Nadal and now Alcaraz, always with the local idol against him, have taken away the final prize. “One of my future dreams is to be able to win here sometime, because it is one of my favorite tournaments. At least I was able to enjoy Sant Jordi, which I like more than Valentine’s Day”, Tsitsipàs let go.

Because the second hose did not change the sign of the match. Alcaraz continued the same and, to the delight of the public, he also scored the most spectacular points, those that arouse the “oh” of admiration and the “bravo”. In the middle of a discotheque atmosphere over the megaphone, Alcaraz danced to a modern song. Tsitsipas didn’t throw in the towel, but a break in the fifth game already put him on the ropes.

A cyclone fell on top of him, but he looked to test the solvency of the champion, only 19 years old, who wrote a lesson in maturity. His pulse never wavered and he finished the final with his serve. 6-3, 6-4 and victory in 1 hour and 18 minutes. There was no turning of the script and the match ended with a big right hand from Alcaraz, who screamed with joy as he turned to his corner. The 2 in the world is closer to the 1, but, beyond the numbers, his triumph at the Godó certifies that there is a genius who has arrived to stay in the elite for a long time.

It has everything. “It was a wonderful victory, and at home. I would never have imagined that I would have so many fans wherever I go”, said the champion in front of the happy gaze of his parents and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. “What he has done these last two years is impressive. It forces us to improve others; he is a player who will go down in history as one of the best”, the Greek surrendered to his rival.

Alcaraz has earned it. He ended up soaking in the Tennis Barcelona pool surrounded by twenty family members and friends. His second Godó already shines in his showcases.