Javier SánchezEnviado especial París
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In an era when the tennis world is constantly evolving, few young players have managed to capture public attention quite like Carlos Alcaraz . Recently, he opened up about his journey in a Netflix documentary titled ‘A Mi Manera’ . In it, he reflects on humanizing his pursuit of becoming the greatest in tennis history. “Work isn’t everything in life,” he claims, echoing the sentiments of many in his generation. His quest for success comes alongside a desire to enjoy life’s small pleasures, like indulging in his mother’s marineras or taking a few days off in Ibiza with friends. Yet, not everyone has embraced his approach. Carlos Moyà summarized the critics’ stance by stating, “It’s a viable option if you want to win Grand Slams in the short term, but more complicated for long-term success because this is a marathon.” No one can predict what will happen by 2034, 2036, or beyond, but as it stands, Alcaraz’s method is yielding impressive results.
At his age, no other tennis legend had amassed as many Grand Slam titles , and only a couple even had similar achievements. Among them is a particular name we’ll discuss shortly. After clinching his fourth Roland Garros title, Rafael Nadal lifted his fifth Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2008 , achieving this feat at the age of 22 years, 1 month, and 3 days. Just this Sunday, Alcaraz also celebrated his fifth Grand Slam at exactly the same age. This uncanny similarity serves as a reminder of their exceptional talents, and draws attention to the legends now trailing in their wake: players like Manolo Santana, Guillermo Vilas , and Jim Courier , each with four titles; and Gustavo Kuerten, Andy Murray , and Stan Wawrinka , each claiming three.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the ages at which other tennis greats achieved similar milestones. For instance, Novak Djokovic was 24 years, 8 months, and 7 days old when he won his fifth Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2012 . Roger Federer was also 24, but slightly younger by a month and three days when he secured his fifth title at the US Open 2005 . There’s only one case akin to that of Alcaraz and Nadal: Bjorn Borg , who celebrated his fifth victory at the tender age of 22 years and 5 days. Other legends like Pete Sampras, Boris Becker , and Mats Wilander achieved this milestone at age 23. In contrast, others had to wait longer— Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl until 26, while Andre Agassi had to wait until 29.
The Challenging Road to the Top Ranking
Currently, Alcaraz’s approach proves to be successful, raising hopes for a future of dominance. While he seems unbeatable on clay and grass , the upcoming challenge lies on hard courts as he aims to solidify his superior status. His rivalry with Jannik Sinner , after defeating him in their last five encounters (including three finals—recently at the Masters 1000 in Beijing , Rome , and at Roland Garros ), makes it surprising that he trails behind him in the ATP rankings .
Despite his recent triumph in Paris and Sinner’s three-month suspension hampering his progress, Alcaraz finds himself with a 2,030-point deficit. He now faces the imminent defense of his Wimbledon title next month. Retaining the crown and continuing his winning streak may set him up for a potential bid for the number one position around the US Open . That’s the road ahead for Alcaraz, given his stellar performance in Grand Slam tournaments. One more Grand Slam title, and he’ll capture the attention—and adoration—of fans globally.