The 10 talented young tennis players who will battle Alcaraz in the next decade

Carlos Alcaraz This is the earliest number one in the history of the ATP professional circuit. At the age of 19, he ascended the throne after breaking the Grand Slam record winning the US Open 2022. Also a former champion of the Masters 1000 ATP in Miami and Madrid and the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona.

The Murcian, because of his results, fantastic play and connection in the stands, has become an international phenomenon.

There has been talk of an Italian rivalry Jannik Sinner, 21 years old. He was the executioner at Wimbledon and Umag was the Spanish executioner, who took revenge by raising the match ball at the US Open. The transalpine, despite its young age, is already known all over the world.

In this list of 10 generation opponents, the Danish appears at the front Holger Rune, who at the age of 19 was already integrated into the world of tennis but now he began to be known in a more global sphere. The youngest, the man from Madrid, was closed Martin Landaluce, US Open junior champion with 16.

American-like players may also appear Sebastian Korda, another potential contender for the Grand Slam crown, although he did not pass the stipulated age cut. He has made quarters in Australia with 22, on his way to 23.

Holger Rune (Also)

It’s now a top-10, as expected since he fought Carlos Alcaraz in base tournaments. They are from the same vintage, 2003. His Masters 1000 title in Paris-Bercy was decorated with a spectacular finale in 2022, where he also made the quarters at Roland Garros. He had a match ball against Andrey Rublev to overcome the eighth. Confirmed, but his ambition points to No. 1 and in the Grand Slam. Very complete and explosive player. Bold, aggressive.

2

Lorenzo Musetti (Ita)

At 20, he was top-20 and won two ATP tournaments (Naples and Hamburg). He had great rivals like Novak Djokovic on the ropes. He had moments of great brilliance in other gray episodes. Talented but irregular, a bit weak at the moment physically. That he will make a career on the circuit is a fact, but he needs to clarify the question of whether his class is enough to be at the top or not.

3

Jack Draper (GBR)

He turned 21 on December 22. English is 1.93 meters tall, with a cannon of serve and forehand. Power and born competitor. His weakness is the physical aspect. Too many injuries prevented him from going any higher than a ranking where he excelled: 38th before facing an Australian Open where he scratched champion Rafa Nadal in one set, who he treated as one -one.

4

Brandon Nakashima (USA)

Listed as the reigning champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals, replacing Carlos Alcaraz on the list of winners. 21 years old, world number 49. San Diego 2022 ATP champion. Much has been said about him since the grassroots tournaments, although he is hard to spot among the greats of his generation. Although he positively added to his presence in the round of 16 of Wimbledon 2022 taking Nick Kyrgios to the fifth set.

5

Jiri Lehecka (Che)

One of the revelations of the 2023 Australian Open reached the quarterfinals. Among his victims, Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime. His ranking will improve significantly, starting in Melbourne from 71st place at 21 years old. Czech school. Talented, very complete. Well worked technique, the flow of the ball is fast and clean from his racket. A very interesting player who has just made his great world debut.

6

Ben Shelton (USA)

Son of former ATP player Bryan Shelton, who is his coach. NCAA doubles and singles champion, in just half a year as a professional he distinguished himself in Australia reaching the quarterfinals of the Open (he had an appointment with his compatriot Tommy Paul). Left-handed, powerful, he had not traveled outside his country until the ocean tour in 2023. In the lower categories he did not stand out, which is why his father recommended him to compete at the national level. An unexpected ‘boom’, waiting to find out what its continuation is. Yes, he will definitely improve his current ranking: 89th

7

Chun-Hsin Tseng (Tpe)

He breaks out of the world top-100 (it’s 115th) at the age of 21. He lives in Barcelona with Tommy Robredo and Abraham González, with Walter Navarro as physical trainer. A new phase begins for the man who gave so much talk as junior world No. 1 in 2018, at the age of 17, chaining a final in Australia (lost to Sebastian Korda) and a successful double at Roland Garros (he beat Sebastián Báez) and Wimbledon (his victim was Jack Draper). It hasn’t progressed like these rivals it competed against in the sub-18s.

8

Dominic Stricker (Sui)

He is 20 years old, he is in the top-100 (nº 118). Left-handed, junior world number three in 2020. Switzerland needs a replacement for Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, although it is impossible for another Roger to emerge and it will be very difficult to match Stan’s record. Stricker is looking to put his country in front, perhaps with his compatriot Lenadro Riedi (20 years old, No. 135 ATP), whom he defeated in the 2020 Roland Garros U-18 final.

9

juncheng shang

Skipped the qualifying phase of the Australian Open, losing in the second round to Frances Tiafoe. The battering ram of growing Chinese men’s tennis. Left-handed, 17 years old, world number 194. From a footballer father and a world champion table tennis mother. Developed in the United States. Everyone speaks wonders on some possibilities that should be gradually endorsed. You have time ahead.

10

Martin Landaluce

US Open junior champion at 16, he turned 17 on January 8. From Madrid, he packed his bags to continue with his coach Óscar Burrieza with the protection of the Rafa Nadal Academy. A lot of potential, he has to avoid comparisons because Rafa is a legend and Alcaraz is not common in sports. To mention other Spanish sub-21s in the ATP rankings such as Dani Rincón (20 years old, 427th ATP, 2021 US Open junior champion)), Carlos Gimeno (21 years old/452nd, 2019 Wimbledon junior finalist), Dani Mérida (18,522º) or Max Alcalá, at 20 years old, 566 in the world.