Carlos Alcaraz has become the first player to clinch a third ATP 500 title this year after dismissing Alex de Minaur in straight sets to win the Vienna Open.
The Spanish second seed surged to a 6-1, 6-4 win over de Minaur, who defeated soon-to-be world No.1 Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals 24 hours earlier. Alcaraz, who entered Vienna via a wildcard after the Six Kings slam was postponed, was in full control throughout the final as he continued to pile pressure onto his Australian opponent. De Minaur reached deuce in six of his nine service games, and Alcaraz broke him four times.
It is the seventh time Alcaraz has defeated de Minaur on the Tour and he is yet to lose to him. The only other player he has such a dominant record against is Karen Khachanov, whom he also leads 7-0 in their head-to-head.
“My team and I know Alex pretty well,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview.
“You have to earn every point. You might hit a winner against everybody except him. I have to be really focused on that.
“I had to start the match really focused, increasing my speed, my pace in every zone, trying to be aggressive and show him that if he wants to win, he has to play better and be smarter than me.
“I’m just really happy that in the end I found my way and played great.”
Vienna is the second tournament Alcaraz has won since returning to action in September from a wrist injury that sidelined him for almost five months. He didn’t drop a set in the tournament, with his other wins coming over Khachanov, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev. Across all ATP 500 events this season, Alcaraz has produced a perfect 15-0 record, with his other titles being won in Tokyo and Doha earlier this year.
“It’s been a really emotional and an amazing week for me,” he said.
“I learned a lot, to keep going forward, step by step, playing on indoor courts, trying to gain more confidence, playing on this surface.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Alcaraz’s triumph ends de Minaur’s 10-match winning streak at indoor hardcourt events. He is the first Australian to contest a final at the tournament and currently has 11 ATP titles to his name.
“I feel very much at home in Vienna. I played some of my best tennis,” de Minaur commented during the trophy ceremony.
“It’s been an interesting year, lots of highs and a couple of lows. I’m proud to be standing here and still fighting,” he added.
Alcaraz has beaten six top-10 players so far in 2026, a benchmark matched only by Jannik Sinner (10) and Novak Djokovic (six).
