Carlos Alcaraz ninth in both ATP rankings and youngest top-tenners
World number nine Carlos Alcaraz is the ninth youngest player ever to be ranked within the ATP top ten, joining a slew of number ones and Slam champions.
The teenage star achieved a new career-high of ninth in the world after winning the ATP 500 Barcelona Open for his fourth career title and third in 2022 after wins in Rio de Janeiro and at the Miami Masters.
That title in Rio saw Alcaraz break into the top 20 for the first time, now breaching the top 10 just seven weeks later.
Since ATP rankings began in 1973, 20 men have now broken into the ATP top 10 before turning 20.
Among them 12 went on to become world number one, 15 won at least one Slam title and 11 won multiple.
Of those 20 men, only 10 reached the top 10 before turning 19, with Alcaraz ninth among them.
At 18 years, 11 months and 20 days old, he is just under a month younger than compatriot and idol Rafael Nadal was when he first reached the mark in 2005.
The list further includes active players three-time slam champion Andy Murray and 20-time Major winner Novak Djokovic, with both achieving the feat months before turning 20 in 2007.
Others that make the cut are greats like Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
Notably, ‘Big Four’ member Roger Federer does not.
He only reached the top 10 in May 2002 at the age of 20 years and nine months, being the 33rd youngest ATP top 10 pro ever.
After following in Nadal’s footsteps by winning his first Barcelona Open title as an 18-year-old against a fellow Spaniard, Alcaraz will be looking to push on at the Madrid Masters next week.
Nadal has achieved his own incredible career milestone this week, one that speaks to his longevity at the top of the men’s game.
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