The Youngest #1 Player in History

Avi Taneja

September 16, 2022

On the eleventh of September of 2022, Carlos Alcaraz became one of the youngest players to win the US Open. And by doing so, he accomplished another amazingly notable feat, becoming the youngest player in history to reach the top positon in the ATP rankings. At the age of nineteen years old, the young boy had won his first grand slam and made it to the first position. Not only that, but in 2022, the young prodigy beat Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Alexander Zverev on clay courts in the Madrid Masters 2022. He is the only player to have beaten Novak and Rafa on clay on consecutive days.

But how did he get here? What dedication did it take for him to get here? Did he spend insane amounts of money on coaches? Or was it a miracle story? Let’s delve deeper into the story of a future legend, one who has and will change tennis history forever.

Alcaraz was born on May 5, 2003 in El Pamar, Murica. His life was hugely influenced by his father, once ranked as Spain’s top 40 tennis players. Alcaraz started his incredible journey with tennis at the age of 4, his idols being Nadal (both having a passion for clay courts) and of course the iconic Roger Federer. 

Alcaraz turned professional in 2018, at the young age of 15. The first few tournaments he played were ATP Challengers and ITF Futures. Later, he played his first ATP event in Rio de Janeiro. He has won six ATP titles as of this month, September 2022. His talent is widely recognized from a multitude of professional tennis players.

His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, is a former World No. 1 and has been training with him for two years at his elite academy. His coach says that the Spainard has a lot of versatility in a multitude of situations and can be put under pressure, and yet still come out victorious and unfazed. Even Andy Murray, also a former World No. 1, compliments the No. 1 by saying, “Alcaraz is unbelievably strong.” after a loss in Vienna.

Alcaraz now has won 6.5 million dollars from ATP earnings from tournaments. Outside of tennis, he enjoys golf and football, and refers to himself as an avid fan of the football team, Real Madrid.