Alcaraz, more than Federer and Djokovic at 21 years old

Carlos Alcaraz turns 21 this Sunday with 13 trophies won on the ATP tennis circuit, a far cry from the 21 Rafa Nadal had at his age.but there are three more than Novak Djokovic took and ten more than Roger Federer, to put in context what the young tennis player from El Palmar (Murcia) did.

Alcaraz, who fell 6-4, 3-6 and 2-6 against Russian Andrey Rublev, halting the Murcian’s advance to the semifinals, He is now focused on his participation in another Masters 1,000, the one in Rome, which will be held from May 8 to 19. in the Italian capital and then comes Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the season, which will take place in Paris from May 20 to June 9.

These are the next appointments for the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero, who He responded well after suffering an injury to his right arm that prevented him from playing in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.but he is still not at his best level of tennis, which led him to win the United States Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023 and, more recently, specifically a month and a half ago, the Masters 1,000 in Indian Wells (California , USA).

Those are three of the titles that have entered Palmareño’s showcases, 13 on the circuit since he debuted here in February 2020 at the age of 16. On July 25, 2021, Alcaraz’s first professional tournament came, at the ATP 250 in Umag, Croatia., defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet by doubles 6-2. Since then, the US Open, Wimbledon, Indian Wells, Madrid and Barcelona – twice in each case -, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Queen’s and Buenos Aires.

Thirteen titles in 17 finals were played to enter tennis history with force. Not in vain, although he is now number 3 -behind the Serbian Djokovic and the Italian Jannik Sinner- He remains the youngest player to reach the world summit.

He achieved this with his victory in New York on September 11, 2021, at 19 years, 4 months and 7 days: ahead of Australian Lleyton Hewitt by 1 year, 4 months and 19 dayswhich held that record for two decades starting in 2001.

At 21 years old – which is three days before Alcaraz’s birthday – the oceanic also accumulated 13 trophies and finished with 30 in his record.

That age limit has been maintained by Nadal, as the Mallorcan has 21 ATP titles by the age of 21 And now, when his retirement is near, he has 92: 22 of them from the Grand Slam.

Only two other tennis greats in history were further behind in that career when they turned 21. Not in vain, Djokovic, the leader in terms of majors won, with 24, and who will go for 98 ATP trophies, had 10 at that point in his career; while the Swiss Federer retired after lifting 103 trophies on the circuit – 20 Grand Slams – although at 21 years old he had only three.

The player with the most trophies won in the ATP is the American Jimmy Connorswho earned 109 between 1972 and 1996 – eight grand – and at Carlos’ age he is now 15.

In terms of precocity, the youngest tennis players to win an ATP tournament and a major are Americans Aaron Krickstein and Michael Chang, respectively. The first of them was crowned at the ATP 250 in Tel Aviv, in Israel, in 1983 at the age of 16 years, 2 months and 14 days and his countryman registered his name as Roland Garros champion in 1989 at the age of 17 years and 3 months and 18 days.

At 21, Krickstein has collected four trophies out of nine he has won in his career and Chang has nine of his 33 finishes.

Looking at the comparison, Alcaraz is in a good place even if he now regrets seeing the end of a streak of 24 victories in Spain and 14 at the Mutua Madrid Open. Rome is waiting to make changes and move forward with its history.