Ever since he jumped into professional tennis, at just 14 years old, Carlos Alcaraz has been selected as a future number one in the world. The Spanish never paid attention to that prediction and remained low profile and always focused on improvement every day, with humility and professionalism. However, his growth in recent seasons has been dizzying and with every success achieved and every step forward in the rankings, he seems to be proving right to those who predict that he will reach the top in the not too distant future. Today he has added a new milestone to his short but impressive career and rewritten his name in tennis history books.

After being crowned champion in Barcelona ATP 500with resounding wins by 6-3 and 6-2 against his countryman Pablo Carreno Busta in the final, Murcian made it into the top 10 on Monday and also made it into a select club: today, he is the 20th teenager (under 20 years old) to make it into that elite since the ATP ranking began to be published , in 1973 And also the first to achieve it since Scotsman Andy Murray, in April 2007.

Alcaraz, new number nine in the world, broke that barrier in just 18 years, 11 months and 20 days and he is the ninth youngest player to do so in entire history. And the earliest Rafael Nadal did was in 2005, at 18 years, 10 months and 22 days.

Foremost among Ferrero’s students on that list are the Americans Aaron Krickstein (17 years and 11 days) and michael chang (17 years, 3 months and 21 days), the German Boris Becker (17 days, 7 months and 16 days), the Swedes Mats Wilander (17 years, 10 months and 20 days) and Björn Borg (17 years, 11 months and 28 days), the American Andre Agassi (18 years, 1 month ). and 8 days), the Russian Andrew Medvedev (18 years, 9 months and 7 days) and Nadal.

The arrival of the two Spaniards in the elite ranks is full of opportunities, which only confirms the predictions that place Charlie Brown in place of the Majorcan.

Rafe he reached the top 10 on April 25, 2005, after being crowned champion the day before in Barcelona and winning the fifth title of his career. His rival in the decisive duel? John Charles Ferrerocoach of Alcaraz.

Exactly 17 years later, the student of mosquitoes, appeared for the first time in that group after lifting the trophy in the same tournament, which also featured a celebration against another Spaniard. Murcian took tenth place by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals, but took ninth by winning the semifinal against the Australian. Alex De Minaurwhich ended on Sunday after being suspended due to rain the previous day.

Nadal has been one of the best players of all time, he led the rankings for 209 weeks and is now the greatest Grand Slam winner in history with 21 crowns, more than any of his teammates in team. Large 3Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Another eleven of the 20 teenagers who reached the top 10 early got number one in the world: Becker, Wilander, Borg, Agassi, Pete Sampras, Stefan EdbergLleyton Hewitt, John McEnroe, Djokovic, Murray and Andy Roddick.

Will Alcaraz follow a similar path? Murcian knew the good expectations placed on him, but he was deaf to almost consistent comparisons to Nadal and tried to make that pressure motivating.

“That’s always the rocks they throw at me in my backpack, but I have things clear. I know the path I have to take and I don’t set an example for any player. I follow my path, without rushing “, he commented during his time in Barcelona.

And consulted about his entry into the top 10, he assured: “Everything is very fast. I had predicted that I could be top 15 this year and I was wrong, but it was a good mistake. (Laughter). But I think I it deserves it for the things I do and the work I do.

Alcaraz continues to grow rapidly. It only took him a few seasons to get his own place among the best on the circuit.

In 2020, at the age of 16, he lost Albert Ramos Vinolas in Rio de Janeiro and added his first success at the ATP level. In January 2021, he qualified for the Australian Open and became the first player born in 2003 to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam. In May, he made it into the top 100. In late July, he earned his first title at Umag. He then reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, with a victory over Tsitsipas (3rd) in the third round, and became the youngest to reach that opportunity in a “big” since Michael Chang in 1990. And he closed the year as champion of Masters NextGen of Milan and in the 32nd step of the ranking.

Now in 2022, his rise has not stopped. He was crowned in Rio (he beat Diego Schwartzman in the final), becoming a semifinalist last Indian Wells (e.g. where he played an equalizer against Nadal) and shouted champion in Miami, where he became the youngest champion in tournament history, which enhanced Djokovic’s record. And he even stumbled upon Monte Carlo (he fell in his debut fight sebastian korda), in Barcelona he rose to fame again, celebrated his fourth title and earned a place in the top 10.

The new gem of Spanish tennis does not cease to amaze the world. And even though he didn’t want to think about it, the ceiling was only number one.