Carlos Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam at the age of 19, at the US Open 2022. The 3-1 win over Caper Ruud marks a new record: this season, however, the young Spaniard has been the protagonist with six records broken. It starts from the ATP 500, on February 20, in Rio.
The 6-4 and 6-2 victory over Argentine Diego Schwartzman makes Carlos Alcaraz the youngest winner of the Brazilian tournament. Less than two months pass. It was on April 3 when, in Miami, in the final with Casper Ruud, the Murcian from the 2003 class became the youngest winner of the tournament.
Carlos doesn’t know it, but that’s a sign of destiny. It is the prologue of something that will change his life. Meanwhile, the road continues. A month later, closer to home, in Madrid, with the 6-3, 6-1 win over Alex Zverev, Alcaraz further lowered the age of the tournament winner.
Right in Madrid, after the defeat in Indian Wells, the child prodigy beat his idol Rafa Nadal 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals he faces Novak Djokovic: 6-7, 7-5, 7-6. Never has such a young player beaten Rafa and Nole.
The best of tennis, still today. And we come to the apotheosis of New York. Carlos Alcaraz lifts the first Grand Slam of his career: since 1990 he hasn’t won such a young player in the United States. From a legend like Pete Sampras, who at 19 years and 28 days won the final against Andre Agassi, in what would have been the first chapter of an iconic rivalry.
Speaking more of Grand Slam tournaments, we have to rewind the tape to 2005, when Rafa Nadal triumphed in France against Mariano Puerta.
Kiko Navarro praises Alcaraz
Less than a week after Carlos Alcaraz’s first and magnificent career Grand Slam crowning, all this at just 19 years old and becoming the youngest world number one in history, the euphoria has clearly subsided because in large part of Roger Federer’s retirement announcement that overshadowed everything.
Despite everything, Eurosport went to meet the first coach of Carlitos, a certain Kiko Navarro. “I have known him since he was 4–5 years old. His father calls me and I had not seen him play. I will see him on court 13 of the club which was a little further.
I saw him play with his father and it was very surprising. At the age of 4, he was already doing backhand slice. He already had a very good grip even if his blows were too strong. But already the technique he had was of a much higher level for his age.”
