Alcaraz overcomes Schwartzman to win Rio Open

The 29-year-old Schwartzman said his Younger Rival is doing “an amazing job.”

“He is so young and is already achieving impressive things,” the Argentine said.

Alcaraz praised Schwartzman’s fighting spirit and thanked the crowd for its support.

“I have no words to describe what I had here from the first match until this final,” Alcaraz said.

The Spaniard converted five of his six break points overall and dominated with impressive baseline play.

Alcaraz’s path to the title included upsetting top-Seeded Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals and then beating another Italian, Fabio Fognini, in the semifinals.

Fitness was a key element of Sunday’s final. Both players had their quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday due to heavy rain falling in Rio during the week.

Schwartzman had threatened not to play his semifinal match against countryman Francisco Cerundolo if they didn’t have enough time to rest after a lengthy quarterfinal against Spain’s Pablo Andujar.

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