Alcaraz follows Nadal's success with Barcelona Open title

I've always wanted to play in this tournament and of course I can win this tournament

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Teenager Carlos Alcaraz claimed the fourth title of his young career by beating eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-2 in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday, hours after winning the semi-final which was delayed by rain.

The 18-year-old will enter the top 10 of the world rankings on Monday at the same age, on the same date and after winning at the same tournament as compatriot and 21-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal in 2005.

Alcaraz, who broke through US Open quarter-finals, joining compatriots, including Nadal, coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, to lift the trophy at the ATP 500 claycourt tournament.

"It means a lot. I've watched this tournament since I was little. I've always wanted to play in this tournament and of course I can win this tournament," said Alcaraz, quoted by Reuters.

"I'm very happy to be part of Spain's (historic) roster."

The trophy is his fourth following wins in Miami and Rio de Janeiro this year and victory at Umag last July, when he became the youngest ever tour-level champion since Kei Nishikori won the title at Delray Beach in 2008.

Alcaraz projected to climb to ninth when the latest ATP rankings are released.

The Next Gen ATP Finals champion had to work hard for his new crown after the semifinals in Barcelona were pushed back to Sunday due to rain on Saturday and Alcaraz saved two match points to beat Alex de Minaur 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6- 4.

The victory in three hours and 40 minutes saw him win the Barcelona Open title from his mentor Carreno Busta.

"It's difficult to play the final this afternoon after this game, after this week, but it's a final," Alcaraz said earlier.

"You have to give 100 per cent, fight until the last ball. There's no time to be tired, you have to fight like the first day."

There is no remorse for Ricciardo, Sainz said after the DNF in Imola

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Carlos Sainz said he had no feelings for Daniel Ricciardo after the McLaren driver apologized for causing a collision with the Ferrari driver on the opening lap at Imola on Sunday.

Sainz's car twisted on the track and got stuck in the gravel after being hit from behind by Ricciardo di Tamburello's McLaren which ended his struggle at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Ferrari's home race.

It was the second time in a row that the Spaniard failed to finish (DNF) in the opening four races of the season.

                                   

In Australia, two weeks earlier, he had finished the race on the second lap and Sainz also crashed during Friday's qualifying sprint at Imola.

"The first thing he did (after the race) was come to the Ferrari garage and apologize to me," Sainz said. "The mechanics are all with me and we thank you for the gesture.

"That's why there is no feeling of irritation with Daniel. What happened to him could have happened to everyone there but sadly it happened to me.

"That's how it is. This incident is no mystery. What happened is very clear to everyone."

Sainz held two positions behind team mate Charles Leclerc before the race but slipped to fifth place 38 points clear of the Monaco driver after the race.

Leclerc could have widened the gap further but he found his car skidded while chasing Red Bull's Sergio Perez, dropping from P3 to P8 before restoring two positions to finish P6 as Max Verstappen won the fourth race from pole position.

Leclerc said he was too 'greedy' when launching an attack on Perez and he learned from that mistake.

"The position when it could be the best result we could have secured today, because our competitors are very strong," said Leclerc.

"I was overwhelmed with the soft tyres but when I saw the opportunity to overtake Perez for second, I took it, pushed too much, when I should have defended to secure the point."

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said it was not the home race result that was expected.

"We wanted to give the fans something to celebrate, as they thronged and reddened the stands and pitch to support us at Imola," said Binotto.

"It's normal, we're disappointed not to be able to make it happen, but there will be races and other opportunities to make them smile."

Red Bull duo's positive results in Italy are expected to continue in America

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Two Red Bull Racing drivers managed to secure the podium of the 2022 Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna victory at the Imola Circuit, Italy, Sunday (24/4) with Max Verstappen finishing first and Sergio Perez stepping on podium two and positive results are expected. continues at the American GP.

Finishing in first and second positions for Red Bull Racing, based on data received by the media in Jakarta, Monday, is the third. Previously this had happened in Brazil in 2013 and Malaysia in 2016.

The results achieved by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have clearly become the pride of the team management and sponsors who have provided support, including Mobile Lubricants. Achievement of the best results are expected to be re-engraved at the American GP, ​​9 May.

“Obviously this makes up for Max's disappointment in the Australian series. Max shows his quality as a world champion racer and is supported by a reliable car, it's nice to see Max and Perez together at the top of the standings for the title race," said Market Development Director PT ExxonMobil Lubricants Indonesia (PT EMLI) Sri Adinegara in an official statement, Monday.

Victory at the Imola Circuit which has the name Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari has put Max Verstappen in second place in the 2022 Formula 1 standings with 59 points, 27 points adrift of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Meanwhile, Sergio Perez is in third place with 54 points.

With good capital, Sri Adinegara hopes that the Red Bull duo can show their strength in the American GP race which will take place at the new circuit, the Miami International Autodrome.

“The 1-2 win in Italy certainly gives encouragement for both riders to face the next series in America. Hopefully a solid performance so that the results can be

proud," concluded Sri Adinegara.

Previously, Max Verstappen did not get any significant resistance in the 63 lap race to finish ahead, 16.527 seconds from Sergio Perez who presented a 1-2 finish for Red Bull.

"From yesterday and the day before, we did well and it looks like a strong weekend. As a team, we did everything well, and this 1-2 finish was well deserved," said Verstappen.

"To be able to score maximum points this weekend and be able to be proud of the team is a big boost. We have to stay focused and know that in the next race we have to be up there again and carry on," concluded Max Verstappen.

Enea Bastianini and Diggia expected to make up for failure at MotoGP Jerez

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Gresini Racing's Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Diggia) are expected to make amends for their failure at the Jerez MotoGP, Spain, Sunday (1/5) after in the Portugal series last weekend both failed to contribute points for a team that is widely supported by Indonesian brands. that.

Enea Bastianini, quoted from the official MotoGP website, had an incident at corner eight in the middle of the race, while Diggia experienced a technical problem with his vehicle, thus eliminating the first points of the season.

Market Development Director PT ExxonMobil Lubricants Indonesia (PT EMLI) as one of the sponsors, Sri Adinegara understands the disappointment of the two Gresini Racing MotoGP racers. Of course, the race was very difficult because starting the race from a less than ideal position plus the track was raining before the race.

“Departing from Enea Bastianini's victory in the American MotoGP series, it is very possible to be able to compete again for the podium. But the weather constraints and the incidents experienced have made it difficult for Enea and Diggia to add additional points in the 2022 MotoGP standings," said Sri Adinegara in his official statement.

Enea Bastianini, who is supported by Federal Oil, admits that he started the race quite well even though he started from position 18. His vehicle, the Ducati Desmosedici GP21, was also supportive, but the conditions on the track were unpredictable and ultimately failed to continue the race. .

"Even though the motorbike during dry track conditions can be very fast and the goal this time is to catch up in the next few days to prepare for Jerez," he said.

Meanwhile, Diggia admitted that he regretted the sudden obstacle when the race was only three rounds away. Moreover, the opportunity to get prime points is quite open.

"Even though I was able to keep the rhythm of the race in the last six or seven laps and it was possible to overtake Bezzecchi to get the first points. I could have better timing and understand more about the bike's pace. We are still far away, but we never give up on achieving it, "he said. .

Sri Adinegara believes that the two Gresini Racing MotoGP riders still have the passion to make Indonesia proud again in the next series, namely the Spanish MotoGP at the Jerez Circuit this weekend.

"We hope that Enea and Diggia can get up soon, and remain consistent to perform well and continue to win points for the 2022 season. They will immediately face another race in the next week, hoping that the weather will be sunny and will support the race," concluded Sri Adinegara.