With the humility and the laughing gesture that characterizes, smiles and celebrates again Marcel Granollers, to the rescue. Carlos Alcaraz’s bullet failed, injured; also that of Paula Badosa, also in the reserve; And no Spanish representative managed to progress individually to the eighths, for the first time in the history of the tournament. So regrets and gachas heads. But there he is again, by the hand of Argentine Horacio Zeballos, to register for the second time his name in the palmraés after both were crowning in the Magic Box four years ago: Double 6-4 (1h 15m) against Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavic. That is, a big raising.
On the way to the title, three triumphs of Drumbrón, the one that puts this Saturday the link in front of the first couple in the world and in the previous stations against the second (semifinals) and the third (rooms). The award is an addition for the 39 -year -old Catalan, since with 10 trophies in the showcase, he is already the active bender with more titles in the 1000 Masters, at the same level as Nikola Mektic. Eight of them has achieved them by the hand of their partner Zeballos, 40, the ideal complement. The two, always low profile. “We are here to do our job as well as possible, but, obviously, we are glad to follow at this age and winning again,” says Granollers.
Hard take off for him this year, braking by his physique until the sun began to rise in Indian Wells. From there, again flight, but not before having taken run in the field of challengers They were the Phoenix – and a mood push in Bucharest. “Luckily, I have not had many injuries throughout my career, but Horacio supported me from the first day the return, the level of the demand in training has always been very high. And here we are,” adds the Barcelona, for which there are no mysteries: the key is in the passion of day to day, clarifies, without projecting further. “Essentially, you have to put attitude,” says his partner.
And so, from the hand since the link was born in 2019, they have added 11 successes and the wheel continues. Lord tour that has signed these two weeks in Madrid, where both have again exhibited a perfect synchrony on and off the track. The good vibes accompanies the work and now, again, the result. Not a single set granted to the hindering. “We have shown that we have the commitment. I like Marcel’s mentality, always positive, always looking forward. We are barbarians, I don’t see myself with another,” says Zeballos. “And I joined him because I didn’t want to continue losing … so better to be by his side,” jokes the Buenos Aires.
An injury to the pectoral prevented the Spanish competing in January in Australia and the difficulties came, but the duo was reactivated in March and now repeats success in Madrid. Two finals in the San Fermín neighborhood, two goals. The milesa gold mine for them. They only yielded in the outcome of Indian Wells last year and caught the fuse in Montreal 2019, continued the good march in Rome 2020, Madrid 2021, Cincinnati 2021, Shanghai 2023, Rome 2024 and Montreal 2024. They sing again Bingo, the 29th of Granollers in a silent race but extremely valuable. Currant he, but quality.
-Alcaraz points to Rome
A. C. | Madrid
Until now, only Donald Johnson and Francisco Montana (Montecarlo 1997) had managed to win a 1000 Masters without granting any set. This time celebrate the achievement of Granollers and Zeballos, augated to the seventh and eighth step respectively in the ranking of doubles.
The champions of the modality and also the female picture, again winner Aryna Sabalenka, remains to know who will be the male champion. It will be decided this Sunday (18.30, Teledeport and Movistar+) between the Englishman Jack Draper and the Norwegian Casper Ruud.
On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz aims to play soon in Rome. The Murcia, who suffered an injury just before arriving in Madrid, in the Godó final, has been exercising progressively and, in the absence of a definitive test, aims to compete in the Italian forum from next weekend.
