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World number two Carlos Alcaraz retained his Madrid Open title with a three-set victory over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.<\/span><\/p>\n The 20-year-old Spaniard won 6-4 3-6 6-3 for his fourth trophy on the ATP Tour this season, and 10th overall.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alcaraz is the second man to defend his title in Madrid, after compatriot Rafael Nadal did so in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n He will replace Novak Djokovic at the top of the world rankings by simply playing in Rome next week.<\/span><\/p>\n Alcaraz’s victory in Madrid means he has won back-to-back tournaments, having won the Barcelona Open in April, and demonstrates why he is among the favourites for the French Open, which begins on 28 May.<\/span><\/p>\n After he broke lucky loser Struff’s serve in the opening game in Caja Magica, his opponent fought back to remove Alcaraz’s advantage in the fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n But after Struff held serve, US Open champion Alcaraz reeled off three straight games, later saving three break points before making the most of his first set point.<\/span><\/p>\n Struff, the world number 65, raced into a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set before saving five break points to go 4-1 up. <\/span><\/p>\n Despite failing to convert a break point, the 33-year-old went on to serve out the set to take the final into a decider – at which point Alcaraz found another gear.<\/span><\/p>\n He broke to take a 3-1 lead and, while missing out on two further break points, never relinquished his advantage and served out the match to love.<\/span><\/p>\n