Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, holds the winner's trophy after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany (not in photograph), in the men's final at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, on May 7, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

MADRID - World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the Madrid Open final on Sunday to defend last year's title and win his fourth ATP Tour trophy of the year and his tenth overall.

Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season, came back in top form last month to win the Barcelona Open for the second consecutive year.

The victory was the fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy for Alcaraz, who became the youngest world number one last September when he won the US Open and held that spot for 20 weeks until Novak Djokovic took it back in January.

In Madrid, the 20-year-old Spaniard had to play his best tennis to beat a relentless Struff in three sets in a packed Caja Magica.

The victory was the fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy for Carlos Alcaraz, who became the youngest world number one last September when he won the US Open and held that spot for 20 weeks until Novak Djokovic took it back in January

Lucky loser Struff's run to the final was part of a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the German, who dropped outside the top 100 last year but is back up to 65th after reaching the quarter-finals of last month's Monte Carlo Masters.

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Alcaraz enjoyed a dream start to the match, breaking Struff’s serve in the first game.

The German fought back to return the favor, making things uncomfortable for the world number two with his aggressive tactics and relentlessly attacking Alcaraz’s serve.

Struff nailed every return to break serve in the fourth game but the Spaniard produced another break and closed the set 6-4.

Struff rushed to a 3-0 lead in the second set, which he took 6-3, but Alcaraz woke up in the third, breaking to lead 3-1 and taking the set 6-3.

"I have suffered more than I have enjoyed today but the finals are like that," Alcaraz said.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball to Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff (not in photograph) during their 2023 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament singles final match at Caja Magica in Madrid on May 7, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

"There are times when your nerves get the better of you, your legs are heavy and it's difficult even though you want to play well.

"You have to be there all the time, Struff is very aggressive. I knew I was going to get bombs and I had to be prepared for it."

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Set to reclaim number one spot

With only five points set to divide the two players in the next set of rankings Alcaraz will move above Djokovic into top spot even if he loses at the first hurdle in Rome

Alcaraz is raring to get to Italy next week to compete in the Rome Masters for the first time in his career and reclaim the world number one spot from Djokovic.

Rankings are based on points claimed at each tournament, which expire every year. To maintain the points won at an event a player must at least match the tally from the previous year.

Alcaraz skipped the Rome Masters last year due to an ankle injury so has no points to defend while Djokovic won in Rome last year and thus cannot improve his overall points total.

With only five points set to divide the two players in the next set of rankings Alcaraz will move above the Serbian into top spot even if he loses at the first hurdle in Rome.

Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany, returns the ball against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, (not in photograph) during their men's singles final match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, on May 7, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

After an injury-plagued start to the season, Alcaraz said he is 100 percent and thinking big, motivated to keep improving his game as he builds up for the French Open, which starts on May 28.

What I am achieving is something big. I just have won my 10th title, my fourth Masters 1000, back-to-back titles here in Madrid and very close to reclaiming the number one world spot.

Carlos Alcaraz, Spanish professional tennis player

"I am an ambitious guy and I'm going full for the win in Rome," Alcaraz told a news conference on Sunday.

"What I am achieving is something big. I just have won my 10th title, my fourth Masters 1000, back-to-back titles here in Madrid and very close to reclaiming the number one world spot.

"It's a special moment and I'm very proud of what I am accomplishing. The work I'm putting in."

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The Spaniard, who turned 20 on Friday, has enjoyed a spectacular start to his career by winning the US Open last September to become the youngest man to top the rankings.

"I know I have an ability to play good in the important moments," Alcaraz said. "I am a player who grows under pressure, in the big stage, and I like to do different things in those moments. To adapt to what my opponents bring to me.

"I am a finals' player: I played 13 finals and won 10."