ROTTERDAM TENNIS ROSETTA * : ACLARAZ HONOURS

Rotterdam : Carlos Alcaraz said Sunday that he had not missed Jannik Sinner at this week's Rotterdam Open, seizing on the world number one's absence to clinch his first indoor title.

Sinner pulled out at the last moment from the Rotterdam draw after triumphing at last month's  Australian Open.

Asked if he had missed his Italian rival after overpowering Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in Sunday's final, Alcaraz quipped : '' Not really!''

'' Now that I'm holding the trophy, I'm going to say that I didn't miss him in the tournament,'' he added.

'' It could have been great having him and me in the same tournament. Probably we could have played a great final, '' said the 21-year-old

In the actual final, world number three Alcaraz had too much weight of shot off both flanks for De Minaur, who retrieved valiantly but lacked the weapons to topple the top seed.

For De Minaur, it was a case of deja vu, as he lost in the final last year as well to Sinner.

'' It's been two years with this runner-up trophy. I'm hoping I'll get my hands on the winners' one day,'' said the Australian

The World Students Society thanks AFP.