Usually, an Alcaraz title run wouldn’t be news. He’s only 21, and this is already his 17th tournament victory. It’s a bigger deal when he loses than when he wins. But Rotterdam was different, and promising, for a couple of reasons.

Alcaraz took on Alex de Minaur in the final of the Rotterdam Open (called the ABN AMRO Open for sponsorship purposes) and reminded tennis fans of his dominance. Alcaraz defeated de Minaur in a hard-fought three-set match: 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz said Sunday that he had not missed Jannik Sinner at this week's Rotterdam Open, seizing on the world number one's absence to clinch his first indoor title. Sinner pulled out at the last moment from the Rotterdam draw after triumphing at last month's Australian Open.