Carlos Alcaraz entered the top-10 in April 2022 at 18 years and 11 months, standing as the ninth-youngest player in that group. The Spaniard has always stayed in the elite group, celebrating his 100th top-10 week and looking good for many more if he avoids injuries! At 20 years and ten months, Alcaraz is the sixth-youngest player with 100 consecutive top-10 weeks, joining multiple Major champions on the exclusive list. Boris Becker tops the charts as the youngest player in that group, followed by Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal. Carlos is the youngest world no. 1 and year-end no. 1 player, achieving both feats in 2022 and staying among the players to beat in the previous season.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
The Spaniard claimed the first Masters 1000 title of 2024 in Indian Wells, hoping for more good runs at notable events in the rest of the year and targeting the ATP throne. Carlos performed an incredible run in 2022, entering the season from outside the top-30 and finishing on the throne as the youngest year-end no. 1 player in ATP history at 19 years and seven months! The young gun suffered a tight loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open before becoming the youngest ATP 500 champion (since 2009) in Rio de Janeiro. Alcaraz battled against his idol Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells semi-final, falling after over three hours but gathering a boost ahead of Miami.
The Spaniard went all the way in Florida, lifting the trophy and becoming the third-youngest Masters 1000 winner after Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal. Carried by this boost, Alcaraz conquered Barcelona, winning back-to-back ATP 500 titles and securing a place in the top-10 at 18, entering the elite group on the same date and at a similar age as Nadal! Hungry for more, Carlos lifted another notable trophy at home in Madrid following impressive wins over Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev within three days! Alcaraz became the youngest player with a win over Nadal on clay and the youngest to oust Nadal and Djokovic in back-to-back days on the slowest surface.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Carlos Alcaraz has accumulated 100 consecutive top-10 weeks.
The young Spaniard reached the Roland Garros quarter-final and lost two ATP finals on clay in July, adding more points to his tally and entering the US Open as world no. 4. Carlos defended a match point in the quarter-final cracker against Jannik Sinner. He became the youngest Major finalist since Nadal in 2005 and lifted his first Major trophy after beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 20 minutes. Alcaraz conquered the title as a teenager and became the youngest world no. 1 in ATP history. Carlos fell in the Basel semi-final and the Paris Masters quarter-final and skipped the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals due to an abdominal muscle injury.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Despite the setback, the Spaniard did enough to wrap up the year at the top and write history as the youngest year-end no. 1 player. Alcaraz lost the ATP throne to Novak Djokovic in 2023, but his place in the top-10 was never in doubt following more notable results and titles. Carlos skipped the Australian Open due to a leg injury. He made a victorious start to the season in Buenos Aires in February before losing the Rio de Janeiro final, giving his best despite an injury but finishing runner-up. A teenager claimed his third Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, beating all rivals in straight sets and becoming world no. 1 for the second time. The Spaniard stayed there for two weeks, failing to defend the Miami Masters title and pushing Djokovic back to the top.
Alcaraz defended his titles in Barcelona and Madrid, moving closer to Djokovic and passing him ahead of their Roland Garros semi-final clash. Novak beat his young opponent in four sets, with Carlos cracking under pressure in the opening stages of the third set, feeling cramps in his entire body and winning two games in sets three and four! Heading to grass with almost no experience on the fastest surface, Alcaraz showed his fast-learning skills at Queen’s and Wimbledon, winning both titles and becoming a double Major winner at 20! Carlos met Novak in the All England Club final and prevailed in five sets, writing history and lifting his sixth title of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport
As it turned, it would be his last in 2023, finishing runner-up in Cincinnati following an epic duel against Novak and losing ground in the remaining events. Carlos lost in the semi-final in New York, Beijing and Turin, finishing the season as world no. 2 and preparing for more success in 2024. Alcaraz kicked off the season at the Australian Open and fell to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final. He failed to defend the Buenos Aires title and twisted his ankle in Rio de Janeiro, heading home and resting his body ahead of Indian Wells. The defending champion recovered his game and produced his best tennis in the desert, ousting Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev en route to his fifth Masters 1000 crown at 20.
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