Alex de Minaur was the first finalist to step forward during the closing ceremony. The friendly Australian, visibly disappointed, accepted the runner-up trophy before addressing the applauding crowd at Vienna’s Stadthalle.
“I would like to start with Carlitos,” said the 27-year-old, who is ranked tenth in the world and is unquestionably among the leading players in the sport. After a highly successful week in Vienna, however, de Minaur had been beaten by Alcaraz in the final.
Alcaraz has shown that he can deliver the right response not only on court but also in his exchanges with others. His victory in Vienna made clear how much the tennis world had missed him. The reaction surrounding the final reflected his broad popularity among spectators, the media and his fellow professionals.
Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung.