Carlos Alcaraz reached the final in his first tournament since November

The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz qualified for the final of the clay tournament in Buenos Aires (Argentina) with a prize fund of 626,595 dollars. Alcaraz, seeded No. 1, emphatically defeated compatriot Bernabe Zapata Mirayes 6-2, 6-2 in 77 minutes and will be playing for the title in his first competition since returning to the court after a three-and-a-half-month absence.

"I'm happy. I had lost confidence because of the injury and I had to recover not only physically but also mentally, to find my rhythm again. Reaching the final in my first tournament this season is very special for me," he commented. The 19-year-old Spanish, who is second in the world rankings.

Alcaraz, who in September won the US Open and climbed to No. 1 in the world rankings, returned to the court earlier this week after not playing since early November last year, when he withdrew due to a physical problem late in the second a set in his match against Holger Rune (Denmark) in the Paris Masters tournament, and was then nursing abdominal and thigh muscle injuries.

In search of the seventh trophy of his career, he will meet the number 2 Cameron Norrie (Great Britain), who stopped the streak of the Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varias (Peru) after 7:6(5), 6:4. The Spaniard leads 3-1 against Norrie, but the Brit triumphed 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4 in their last meeting in Cincinnati last year.

"I have played against him several times. He is a very, very difficult opponent. I know I have to give my all in the final. It will be very tough, but at the same time beautiful," Alcaraz said. The left-handed Norrie, who is currently 12th in the ATP rankings, has won four titles in his career.

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