Carlos Alcaraz became the 28th ATP world no. 1 player following his first Major success at the US Open. Thus, Carlos became the first teenager with a Major title since Rafael Nadal and the youngest world no. 1 at 19. Alcaraz received the ATP No. 1 honor at the season’s last Masters 1000 event in Paris, adding a beautiful trophy to his rich collection that contains a Major and two Masters 1000 shields. Carlos is spending his eighth week as world no. 1, matching his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and John Newcombe and joining Marat Safin on nine following Monday. The youngster made impressive progress through the list in the past three years. He kicked off the 2022 season from just outside the top-30 and hoped to finish it in the top-15. Instead, by September, Alcaraz became the world’s best player, 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 in January before conquering his first ATP 500 crown in Rio de Janeiro as the youngest winner on that level since 2009.
Carlos Alcaraz received his ATP No. 1 trophy in Paris.
The young gun pushed Rafael Nadal to the limits in the Indian Wells semi-final before losing after over three hours. Carlos made further steps in Miami, heading all the way and becoming the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal! Alcaraz did not have to wait to lift another notable trophy, conquering Barcelona at the end of April for back-to-back ATP 500 titles. Carlos cracked the top-10 with those points and joined the elite group of players who achieved that before turning 19. Not stopping there, the youngster lifted another Masters 1000 shield in front of the home fans in Madrid after beating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Carlos became the world no. 1 contender and added more valuable points with the Roland Garros quarter-final. Alcaraz came to the US Open as world no. 4 and saved a match point in the quarter-final thriller against Jannik Sinner to extend his journey.
Carlos overpowered Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final and advanced into his first Major final. 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. Both players earned three breaks, and the Spaniard defended two set points at 5-6 in the third set to force a tie break and bring the victory home from there. Alcaraz claimed the opener with a single break, and the Norwegian took charge from 2-2 in set number two to rattle off four straight games. Casper had two set points on the return at 5-6 in the third set, and Carlos saved them with winners to introduce a tie break. The youngster won it 7-1 and gained a massive boost ahead of the fourth. Alcaraz broke in the sixth game and served well in the rest of the clash to seal the deal to lift the trophy. The Spaniard lost in the Basel semi-final last week and will chase a better run at the Paris Masters, despite slight knee issues.