Carlos Alcaraz confident he’s ‘on track for world number one’ after second ATP title

Carlos Alcaraz is supremely positive that he is on course to become world number one after winning the ATP 500 Rio Open in convincing fashion.

After securing the trophy in Brazil at 18 years and nine moths old, he became the youngest man to breach the ATP top 20 since Andrei Medvedev did so back in 1993 when he was 18 years and five months old.

Alcaraz beat idol and 21-time Slam champion Rafael Nadal to the feat by a month, as he broke into the top 20 for the first time when he was 18 years and 10 months old.

The world number 20 thought back to another milestone career moment in Rio, his first ATP win back at the 2020 event.

“When I won my first ATP match here two years ago, I remember coming here, wanting to enjoy the experience and learn the most I could,” Alcaraz told Eurosport after clinching the title in Rio.

“This year, I already had very high expectations, knowing I could beat anyone and was one of the favourites for the title.

“Achieving this success is very good.”

Alcaraz moved over 100 places in the ATP rankings over the past year, being ranked 127th on 22nd February 2021.

However, the young Spaniard is aware that his success so far is no guarantee of success in the future and that he must continue to work hard to achieve more.

“This title gives me a lot of confidence in what I’m doing because I think I’m on the right road to be number one in the world,” he added.

“That is my goal because I am someone who dreams big.

“If I stay on this road, I know I will have opportunities to achieve it, but I know the difficulty and what I have achieved so far does not assure it.”

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