“Carlos Alcaraz’s Path to Tennis Greatness: From Defeat Against Nadal to Semifinals in Madrid”

If we look back on the 2021 edition of the Mutua Madrid Open, Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat against Rafa Nadal (6-1/6-2), on his 18th birthday, served as learning and preparation for everything that came before him for the next two years. This Wednesday, at the age of 20 and on his anniversary, will face Coric in the semifinals of the Madrid tournament (4:00 p.m., TVE) and in very different circumstances.

The Murcian is only two victories away -and a presentation in Rome- to snatch, once again, the highest position in the world ranking to Novak Djokovic. Since that hard defeat against Nadal that served as a tennis ‘corrective’, Charlie has evolved at such a rate that he is already compared to the greatest tennis players in history, the ‘Big Three’.

Alcaraz, to this day, add a total of nine titles on the ATP circuit (13 if we add the Challengers). If we make a comparison between Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, Rafa would be the only one of the three who surpasses the pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero. The man from Manacor, at 20 years old, had 16 titles, with a Grand Slam (Roland Garros) and six Masters 1,000 included.

The ‘Goat’ of tennis, Roger Federer, announced the retirement of one of the greatest trajectories that are remembered in world tennis. The first title of the 103 of his great career would come in Milan, at the age of 19. Only four were the professional trophies that the Swiss was able to achieve at the age of 20. He had to wait until 2003, aged 22, to lift the first of eight Wimbledon titles he holds.

Novak Djokovic, at 20 years of age, added the total of five ATP titles. The first of his 93 trophies came at Amersfoot. Djokovic’s first great would arrive at the age of 20 and in his fetish tournament, the Australian Open. Shortly after, he achieved the first of his 38 Masters 1,000 in Miami.

a historic achievement

Carlitos has an achievement that no other player has achieved before him: to be the youngest to rise to the highest point of the tennis Olympus as number one, with 19 years and 214 days, after having won the US Open. Nadal, who has spent 208 weeks at the top of the podium, achieved it at the age of 22 years, five months and 25 days. Roger Federer, 310 weeks in charge, would achieve it at 22 years, five months and 25 days. And finally, Djokovic, current number 1 and with a sum of 387 weeks, at 24 years, one month and 12 days.