It’s match point. The seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which hosts the U.S. Open finals, are filled all the way up to the nosebleed rows. Tennis fans hang onto the edge of their chairs as nineteen-year-old Carlos Alcaraz from Spain prepares to serve. A moment later, he aces Norwegian Casper Ruud to clinch the last Grand Slam trophy of the year. After two weeks of fierce competition against the top players in the world, Alcaraz makes history by displacing Lleyton Hewitt’s 2001 record of becoming the youngest number-one tennis player on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour.
“[Carlos] has the attitude that makes him different from the rest of the young people,” remarks seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander. John McEnroe, a retired American pro tennis player, could not agree more. “He is the prototype player that only comes along every 10 years…”
However, Alcaraz’s ability to push through crucial points to take the match in a five-setter is not the only thing that sets him apart. His extremely quick rise to the top of the ATP has differentiated him from many other players. Although it is his second year of the professional circuit, the young prodigy has risen from a world ranking of 141 in early 2021 to break the top 5 before the 2022 US Open in August. In a span of a little over a year, he made 8 ATP finals and won 6 titles, one of which had him winning consecutive matches against tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the clay courts of the Madrid Open.
“A year ago, I came [to the US Open] as a new guy, a kid who was experiencing everything for the first time, including Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Alcaraz said. “I think I was a player who could win against anyone but was not ready to have the physical, mental and tennis level for two full weeks.”
After the three five-set matches leading up to the U.S. Open final, spectators were left wondering if the teenager had any energy left for his Sunday final. Compared to his Norwegian opponent, Alcaraz had spent 4.5 hrs more on-court with consecutive matches stretching to as late as 2:50 am. Alcaraz showed impressive footwork and movements with a behind-the-back shot and several seemingly impossible reaches. At one point in his quarter-final against Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz had fallen in a split only to sprint to the opposite side of the court in a matter of seconds for a backhand winner. His footwork left McEnroe praising the youngster “so much so that [he] gave Alcaraz the edge over Novak Djokovic in terms of court coverage on hardcourts.”
Instead of comparing him to the Serbian Djokovic, many fans are quick to liken Alcaraz to another player he had idolized while growing up. Similar to Alcaraz, Rafa Nadal won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros at the same age in 2005. Both players have a similar muscular build, a height of about 6 feet, a shared nationality and a playing style that involves aggressive baseline rallies and boundless mental stamina. However, Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Ferrero, prefers to avoid this comparison to avoid placing such pressure so early in one’s career. Unlike most of his fans, Alcaraz believes his all-court game is more like that of Swiss legend Roger Federer. Alcaraz can finish points at the net whenever his powerful groundstrokes present the chance to approach. When under pressure, he is still willing to serve and volley. Unlike many younger players, he is unafraid to use the drop shot during critical points like the ones he faced in the U.S. Open finals. Alcaraz won 34 out of the 45 points he played at the net before winning the last game of the Championship with three aces.
“You have to give everything on court. You have to give everything you have inside. I worked really, really hard to earn it,” Alcaraz said after the final. “It’s not time to be tired.”
The Big Three tennis players have dominated for over two decades with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic winning 63 of the last 77 Grand Slams. Collectively, they held onto the world’s number-one singles ranking for 17 of those years. Are the legends ready for a changeover?
The future is exciting for fans as a new crop of tennis talents emerges.
“[Carlos is] one of these few rare talents that comes up every now and then in sports,” said Ruud. “Let’s see how his career develops, but it’s going all in the right direction.”
Written by Huy Changvu of Cabin John Middle School
Graphic courtesy of Katherine Hua of Thomas S. Wootton High School