Carlos Alcaraz is spending his 16th week on the ATP throne, becoming the 18th player with that many world no. 1 weeks. Carlos matched Daniil Medvedev and moved four no. 1 weeks behind Mats Wilander. The Spaniard will catch the Swede on January 23 after not defending too many points at the Australian Open. Alcaraz took the ATP throne after conquering his first Major at the US Open in September, staying at the top for over three months despite a slow finish of the season. The youngster made impressive progress through the ATP list in the past three years. Carlos kicked off the 2022 season from just outside the top-30 and wished to conclude it in the top-15. Instead, Alcaraz became the world’s best player after the season’s last Major, celebrating his first Major title in New York and writing history books. The Spaniard suffered a tight loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open at the start of the season. In February, Carlos conquered his first ATP 500 crown in Rio de Janeiro as the youngest winner on that level since 2009.
Carlos Alcaraz is the 18th player with 16 No. 1 weeks.
The young gun pushed Rafael Nadal to the limits in the Indian Wells semi-final before losing after over three hours. Carlos fixed that in Miami and went all the way to become the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal! Alcaraz did not have to wait too long to lift another notable trophy. He conquered Barcelona at the end of April for back-to-back ATP 500 titles and a place in the top-10 at 18. Not stopping there, the youngster lifted another Masters 1000 trophy in front of the home fans in Madrid after impressive wins over Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev within three days! Carlos became the world no. 1 contender and added more valuable points with the Roland Garros quarter-final. Alcaraz lost back-to-back ATP finals on clay in July and came to the US Open as world no. 4. He saved a match point in the quarter-final thriller against Jannik Sinner to remain on the title course.
Carlos overpowered Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final and advanced to his first Major final at 19. Alcaraz fought for the ATP throne and a Major title against Casper Ruud and scored a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory in three hours and 20 minutes. After this incredible success, the Spaniard slowed down a bit and rested his body. Carlos lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Basel semi-final and reached the quarter-final in Paris. He injured his left abdominal wall against his coeval Holger Rune, retiring in the second set’s closing stages and heading home to Spain. Alcaraz revealed an abdominal muscle injury that sidelined him from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals. Carlos is working hard on his return, hoping to play at 100% at the Australian Open and seek his second consecutive Major title.
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