Alcaraz: Young and full of records!

Born in May 2003, world No.1 and Spain’s versatile warrior Alcaraz achieved a career Grand Slam last week at the Australian Open, becoming the ninth male player in history to complete the career Grand Slam and the sixth since the Open Era began in 1968. Looking back at young Alcaraz’s career so far, it’s impossible not to marvel: so young, yet so many records!

In 2018, at just 15 years old, Alcaraz turned professional early; in July 2021, he won his first ATP title at the Umag ATP250; in August 2021, he stormed into the US Open quarterfinals, becoming the youngest US Open quarterfinalist since the Open Era began in 1968; in November 2021, he claimed the ATP Next Gen Finals title in Milan and became the youngest player ranked in the ATP top 100 that season.

The youngest champion in ATP 500 history since its establishment in 1990. In February 2022, at 18 years and 9 months old, Alcaraz won the ATP 500 title in Rio, becoming the youngest champion in ATP 500 history since the tournament's inception in 1990.

The youngest champion at both Miami and Madrid Masters events. In March 2022, Alcaraz won his first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history; in May 2022, competing on home soil, he won the Madrid Masters, again setting the record as the youngest champion in that event’s history.

The youngest world No.1 and youngest year-end No.1. At the 2022 US Open, Alcaraz soared to his first Grand Slam title and ascended to world No.1. He became the 28th player to hold the top ATP ranking since computer rankings began in 1973, breaking the previous youngest No.1 record held by Australia’s Hewitt at 20 years and 8 months by achieving it at 19 years and 4 months. In the 2022 season, Alcaraz posted a 57-13 win-loss record and finished as the youngest year-end No.1, ending the 18-year dominance of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray over the ATP No.1 spot since 2004.

The youngest champion at Indian Wells and the youngest to complete the “Sunshine Double.” In March 2023, Alcaraz captured his third Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history. Along with his Miami Masters title from the previous year, he became the youngest player to win both the Miami and Indian Wells Masters, known as the “Sunshine Double.”

The first player born after 2000 to win titles on hard, clay, and grass courts. At the 2023 ATP 500 Queen’s Club grass tournament in London, Alcaraz won the title in his debut, becoming the first post-2000 player to claim championships on hard, clay, and grass surfaces.

The player who broke the 20-year dominance of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray at Wimbledon. At Wimbledon 2023, riding on his Queen’s Club victory momentum, Alcaraz reached the final and won a five-set thriller against seven-time champion Djokovic, ending Djokovic’s 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon and his decade-long undefeated record at the tournament’s center court. Alcaraz’s Wimbledon 2023 victory broke the 20-year hold on the title by the “Big Four” since 2003.

The youngest player since the Open Era began in 1968 to win Grand Slam titles on hard, grass, and clay courts. At the 2024 French Open, Alcaraz won his third Grand Slam, becoming the youngest player at 21 years and 1 month to have won majors on all three surfaces during the Open Era.

The youngest player in the Open Era to win back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon titles in the same season. In the 2024 Wimbledon final, Alcaraz once again defeated seven-time champion Djokovic to successfully defend his title. At 21 years and 2 months, he became the youngest player in the Open Era to capture consecutive French Open and Wimbledon titles within a single season.

The first player to win ATP 500 titles on indoor hard, outdoor hard, clay, and grass courts. At the 2025 ATP 500 Rotterdam indoor hardcourt event, Alcaraz won in his debut, becoming the first ATP player to have won 500-level titles on indoor hard, outdoor hard, clay, and grass courts.

Champion of the longest final in French Open history. At the 2025 French Open, Alcaraz and Sinner contested the longest final in the tournament’s history, lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes. In the fourth set’s ninth game, Alcaraz saved three consecutive break points and championship points against Sinner, then broke Sinner’s serve in the tenth game to eventually win the five-set match, defending his French Open title. This marked Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title. He became the second player in the Open Era after Federer to win his first five Grand Slam finals and the third youngest to win five Grand Slam titles after Borg and Nadal.

The player with the most Masters 1000 titles among 90s, 95s, and 00s generations. At the 2025 Cincinnati Masters, Alcaraz claimed his eighth Masters 1000 title, surpassing Germany’s Zverev’s seven titles, making him the player with the most Masters championships among players born in the 1990s, 1995, and 2000s generations.

Second US Open title and return to world No.1. At the 2025 US Open final, Alcaraz defeated defending champion Sinner in four sets to win his second US Open title and reclaim the world No.1 ranking. At 22 years and 3 months, he became the second youngest player in the Open Era to win six Grand Slam titles, only behind Borg who achieved it at 21 years and 1 month.

The youngest career Grand Slam winner in history. At the 2026 Australian Open, Alcaraz battled through a five-set, 5-hour 27-minute semifinal against Germany’s Zverev, then faced ten-time Australian Open champion and Serbian star Djokovic in the final. After dropping the first set, Alcaraz rallied to win the next three sets, claiming his first Australian Open title and seventh Grand Slam overall. At 22 years and 8 months, he surpassed Nadal’s record of 24 years and 3 months to become the youngest career Grand Slam winner in the Open Era; he also broke the record held since 1938 by American legend Donald Budge, becoming the youngest male player ever to complete the career Grand Slam. Alcaraz is also the youngest to reach all four Grand Slam finals and to consecutively reach four Slam finals. He finally surpassed Borg, who won seven majors at 23, becoming the youngest player in the Open Era to win seven Grand Slam titles at 22 years and 8 months. To date, Alcaraz’s seven Grand Slam titles exceed the combined total of all 90s, 95s, and 00s players (six).

(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Qicai Doufan)