Carlos Alcaraz ended his top-2 streak after 81 weeks, losing a place in the elite group following the Miami Masters. Jannik Sinner claimed the title in Florida and became world no. 2 for the first time in a career. Carlos stood in the top-2 between September 2022 and March 2024, embracing the 16th-longest streak, standing six weeks behind Lleyton Hewitt. In September last year, Carlos had a massive 4000-point advantage over Jannik. However, the Italian has been a player to beat since then, claiming five ATP titles and winning the Davis Cup crown for Italy. Sinner is 22-1 in 2024, leading the ATP Race and earning enough points to pass Alcaraz and become Novak Djokovic’s closest rival. Alcaraz entered the top-10 in April 2022 following two Masters 1000 titles.
Carlos Alcaraz, Miami 2024© Al Bello / Staff – Getty Images Sport
He reached the Roland Garros quarter-final and played two more finals on clay in July ahead of the US Open. The Spaniard was among the favorites in New York, and he proved that on the court. Carlos defended a match point in the quarter-final cracker against Jannik Sinner, entering the last four and gathering a boost. Alcaraz ousted Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the title match, becoming the youngest no. 1 player in ATP history and kicking off his top-2 journey. Carlos lost in the Basel semi-final and the Paris Masters quarter-final before skipping the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals due to an abdominal muscle injury. Still, he did enough to finish the season on the ATP throne as the youngest year-end no. 1 player at 19.
Alcaraz could not finish the 2023 season at the top, but he did enough to spend the entire season in the top-2, becoming the youngest player to achieve that after Rafael Nadal in 2006. Carlos missed the Australian Open due to a leg injury and started the year in Buenos Aires on clay. The Spaniard lifted the trophy before losing the Rio de Janeiro final to Cameron Norrie. Alcaraz delivered his A-game in Indian Wells, beating all the opponents in straight sets and lifting his third Masters 1000 crown at 19. Carlos spent two weeks as world no. 1 before Novak Djokovic regained the throne after the young gun failed to defend the Miami Masters title. The Spaniard defended 1500 ATP points in Barcelona and Madrid, lifting two trophies at home and entering Roland Garros as world no. 1.
Carlos Alcaraz, Miami 2024© Al Bello / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos Alcaraz lost a place in the top-2 after 81 weeks.
He fought with Djokovic for the ATP throne in the semi-final and cracked under pressure, feeling cramps in his entire body and winning only two games in sets three and four. Despite his lack of experience on the fastest surface, Carlos showed his rich talent on grass, conquering Queen’s and Wimbledon and earning crucial points while continuing his top-2 streak. Alcaraz met Djokovic in a thrilling Wimbledon final and prevailed in five sets, becoming a two-time Major winner at 20 and writing history books. At that moment, it was impossible to predict it would be Carlos’ last title of the season. The young gun had a massive chance to lift another Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati, falling to Djokovic after an incredible battle that lasted almost four hours!
Carlos Alcaraz, Miami 2024© Megan Briggs / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
It took the momentum away from Carlos, who fell in the semi-final at the US Open, Beijing and the ATP Finals. Alcaraz finished the season ranked 2nd, with a solid gap over Daniil Medvedev and the upcoming Jannik Sinner. Carlos reached the Australian Open quarter-final before falling to Alexander Zverev, losing ground in the early stages and failing to perform a comeback despite a solid effort. The Spaniard lost his Buenos Aires title after losing to Nicolas Jarry, hoping for a better run in Rio. However, Carlos twisted his ankle after only a couple of minutes against Thiago Monteiro, losing valuable points and heading home. Alcaraz recovered and produced his best tennis at Indian Wells, earning his fifth Masters 1000 crown at 20 and remaining in the top-2.
The Spaniard defeated Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, adding 1000 ATP points to his tally and playing his best tournament since Wimbledon last year. Carlos made an impressive start in Miami, sailing past the first three rivals and entering the quarter-final. The young gun met Grigor Dimitrov in a battle for the semi-final and experienced a tough 6-2, 6-4 loss, losing points and allowing Sinner to pass him on the ATP ranking list. Alcaraz dropped almost half of the points behind the initial shot, facing eight break points and suffering four breaks. Dimitrov struggled behind the second serve but did everything right in the pivotal moments, saving four out of five break points and controlling the scoreboard.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Grigor grabbed an early break in the second game of the match and denied break points in the next one for 3-0. Alcaraz denied two break points in the fourth game and held, reducing the deficit and adding his name to the scoreboard. Dimitrov landed an ace in the seventh game, moving 5-2 up and earning another break in the next one with a backhand winner for 6-2 and a boost. Grigor painted a forehand down the line return winner in the fourth game of the second set, opening a 3-1 gap and holding at love in the next one, moving closer to the finish line.
Alcaraz denied a break point in game six, staying within one break deficit. The young gun pulled the break back at love in game seven, returning to the positive side and hoping for a comeback after locking the result at 4-4 with a service winner. Grigor fired a booming serve in the ninth game for 5-4 and earned two match points with a running forehand down the line winner at the net in the next one. Carlos missed a forehand on the first, suffering the quarter-final defeat and bowing out from the top-2 after 81 weeks.
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