Carlos Alcaraz, 18 years old and 16th player in the world, beat the Norwegian Casper Ruud, 8th in the world, in the final of the Masters 1000 in Miami this Sunday (7-5, 6-4). Never had such a young player won this tournament. Tennis sees a new contender at the top of the men’s circuit.
The years 2019 and 2020 were those of Carlos Alcaraz’s first bursts, from the depths of the ATP world rankings to 141st place. In 2021, the young prodigy revealed himself to the general public with a first title in Croatia, a quarter-final at the US Open and a 32nd place in the world at the end of December. At the start of 2022, the Spaniard is once again moving up a gear.
Two weeks ago, he won the ATP 500 tournament in Rio, Brazil, beating Diego Schwartzmann in the final. At 18 years and 9 months, he then became the youngest player to win a tournament of this level, as well as the youngest active player to enter the Top 20 (16th in the world).
And this Sunday, April 3, the new star of the yellow ball did even better by winning the Masters 1000 in Miami. The Norwegian Casper Ruud, 8th player in the world, could not stop the prodigy in the final. Carlos Alcaraz won in straight sets (7-5, 6-4) and became the youngest player to win here, at 18 years and 333 days. Novak Djokovic, winner in 2007 at 19 years and 314 days, is erased from the shelves.
In the history of the Masters 1000, only two have been earlier: the American Michael Chang, who won the Toronto Masters in 1990 at 18 years and 157 days, and the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who won the Monte Carlo Masters in 2005, at 18 years and 318 days.
And now the phenom is aiming for a Grand Slam
Born in El Palmar, near Murcia, Carlos Alcaraz is attracting more and more people. With his muscular physique, his precocity and his nationality, the parallel is all found with Rafael Nadal. After beating Casper Ruud, he said about it: I always say that if you are compared to Rafa, it is because you are doing the right thing, that you are on the right road. But I try not to think about it too much. Rafa is Rafa, and Carlos Alcaraz is Carlos Alcaraz. He’s one of the best players in history while I’m living my dream. »
The man with 21 Grand Slam titles greeted his younger brother. ” Congratulations Carlitos on your historic triumph in Miami. The first of a long series to come, that’s for sure! “, tweeted Rafael Nadal.
Muchas Felicidades Carlitos @alcarazcarlos03 for your triunfo HISTÓRICO en #Miami. El primero de tantos que van avenir, seguro! ????????????
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 3, 2022
Coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world No. 1 and winner of Roland-Garros in 2003, Carlos Alcaraz also said he was surprised by his rapid progress: “ I skip the stages so quickly… I didn’t expect it. My goal was to finish the year in the Top 15, and I’m already 11th and close to the Top 10. It’s thanks to the hard work that my team and I apply every day. »
Behind the three monsters Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the pack of young wolves is adorned with a new predator with long teeth. Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas know what to expect: in their necks, they feel the breath of Carlos Alcaraz. And even if it was with a smile, the latter clearly declared, with his Masters 1000 in his hands, that he ” would now like to win a Grand Slam “. The next one, Roland-Garros, is in a month and a half…