Alcaraz claimed an entertaining point in the fourth game of the second set, landing a volley winner and moving 3-1 in front. The four-time Major winner held at love for a 6-1, 4-1 advantage in 57 minutes. Nardi faced deuces on the return in game six, standing on the verge of exit door.

The 21-year-old Spaniard let his guard down in the second set, when his Italian opponent fought back from trailing 1-4 to force a decider.

Carlos Alcaraz had a golden opportunity to lift another ATP 500 trophy. With Jannik Sinner’s suspension and Novak Djokovic’s first-round elimination, the Spaniard was the top favourite to take the title at the 2025 Qatar Open.