Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest year-end No. 1 in men’s tennis as Rafael Nadal’s slump continues at ATP Finals
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest player to win the U.S. Open, No. 1 in men’s tennis and the ATP Finals in succession.
The 18-year-old American became the youngest player to win the U.S. Open by beating 15-year-old German Benjamin Mitchell 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Saturday night at AT&T Stadium. It was his first career ATP title.
Alcaraz became the youngest player, on average, to win the U.S. Open in the last 17 seasons. He is just 1.2 victories and 3 years younger than top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who won in 2011.
Alcaraz became the highest-ranked American to claim the US Open crown. He is No. 8 in the world.
Alcaraz becomes the first player to have won both the U.S. Open and the ATP Finals in the same season, the first player to win the U.S. Open and the ATP Finals in the same calendar year, and the youngest player to win both in the same season, all in the same calendar year.
“It doesn’t get better than winning the U.S. Open and winning the ATP Finals all at the same time. To get another one is the icing on the cake,” Alcaraz said Monday night before the finals. “So it’s tough. I didn’t get the chance to win this one a year ago but I had one year ago to prove to myself that I could be the best player in the world. And I took advantage of it. I learned a lot, I’m very happy. I’m very proud of myself.”
Alcaraz is the first player in the history of men’s tennis
