Spain gets a new Nadal. 18-year-old Alcaraz becomes youngest ATP 500 winner

Spain must gradually prepare for the end of the legendary and beloved Rafael Nadal. However, the tennis public need not mourn too long, as a new starlet is on the horizon: 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz started to make his presence known last year when he reached the quarterfinals of the US Open. He subsequently won the Under-21 Masters Tournament and entered the new season as the 31st player on the ATP rankings. At the Australian Open, he faced the sixth ranked player and later semi-finalist Matteo Berretti in the third round, but he didn’t give his skin for free.

In one of the best matches of the tournament, he drew level from 0:2 to 2:2 and only succumbed to his opponent in a super tiebreak. In the next tournament, he played in Rio de Janeiro and, like a true Spaniard, he reigned supreme on clay.

In Brazil he first knocked out Munar, then Delbonis and then the world number six Berrettini. In the semi-finals he took on Fognini and in the final he defeated the 13th player in the world, Diego Schwartzmann.

He thus became the youngest player to win an ATP 500 event and break into the Top 20 on the world rankings. He is incidentally the youngest player in the entire Top 250. But that’s not enough for him.

“I want to be a world number one, a multiple Grand Slam champion and an Olympic medallist. It is true that I am a boy with big dreams,” says the Spanish talent confidently.

It is the parallel with Nadal that comes to mind. “El toro” is his great role model, Alcaraz said he cheered for him in the Australian Open final like he was a little kid. He has a lot in common with the Spanish national hero. Extremely strong forehand, incredible fighting spirit, never gives up and he is also most comfortable on clay.

Alcaraz had planned to travel to Acapulco, Mexico, where he will be in exclusive company. In fact, besides the first Djokovic, all the current stars (Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Nadal, Berrettini) are starting the tournament.

Carlito has withdrawn from the tournament due to a sore elbow. He returned to Spain and wants to prepare for the upcoming Davis Cup and the next ATP1000 in Indian Wells.

Source: ATP, TennisTonic