Carlos Alcaraz claimed the first Masters 1000 title of his career as he beat Norway’s Casper Ruud to become the youngest winner of the Miami Open.

Alcaraz overcame a slow start to win 7-5 6-4 against the world number eight.

“I feel amazing. I feel really, really good. I was very, very nervous throughout the whole match,” Alcaraz told BBC Sport.

“In my mind, I was able to win the match from the beginning, so I thought I was ready to win the match, win the title. I repeated this to myself in every tough moment.”

He became the third-youngest winner of a Masters 1000 title after compatriot Rafael Nadal and American Michael Chang.

Alcaraz’s coach, former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, had not been in Miami because his father died before the tournament.

Alcaraz dedicated his semi-final win to Ferrero, who arrived unannounced in time for the final, for which he was courtside at the Hard Rock Stadium.

“It’s great. He came yesterday afternoon,” said Alcaraz. “He’s been through some tough moments right now and coming here to support and stay with me is really a special moment for me.

“It’s great to share this kind of moment with him. It’s emotional.”

Alcaraz is the first Spaniard to win in Miami. Nadal, a record 21-time Grand Slam winner, has lost all five of his finals there.

Having won his first ATP 500 title in Rio de Janeiro in February, Alcaraz reached the semi-finals of the previous Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells, where he lost to 35-year-old Nadal.

But the teenager carried his form into Miami, fighting back from losing his first service game and allowing 23-year-old Ruud to build a 3-0 lead.

At 4-2 down, Alcaraz broke back before breaking again at 5-5, and took the opportunity to clinch the first set without needing a tie-break.

He claimed the first three games of the second set and, although Ruud rallied to get it back to 3-2, the rest of the set went with serve as Alcaraz saw out a memorable win.