Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on Sunday marked a new era in men’s tennis. At just 21, the Spaniard has already won four Grand Slam titles, joining the ranks of Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, and Mats Wilander as the only men to achieve this by age 21. This accomplishment sets him apart from tennis legends like Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, who collectively won 66 Grand Slams.
Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, predicted his protege would win 30 Grand Slams. With three major titles in the past five tournaments, Alcaraz is off to a strong start.
Djokovic, with 24 Slams, won his first at 20 but waited three years for his second. Federer won his first of 20 Slams at 21, and Nadal secured three French Open titles by 21.
Alcaraz’s Grand Slam victories include the 2022 US Open, 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon titles, and the 2024 French Open. He is the sixth man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon consecutively and the youngest to claim majors on clay, hard, and grass surfaces. Before he turns 22, he could secure a career Grand Slam with a win in Australia, surpassing Nadal as the youngest to achieve this.
Former tennis star Mats Wilander compared Alcaraz to Federer, noting his impact on the sport and the high expectations from fans.
While a rivalry with Jannik Sinner, who won his first Slam in January, is emerging, Alcaraz holds a 5-4 head-to-head lead, including a win in the Roland Garros semi-finals this year. Alcaraz’s intensity and speed on the court have drawn comparisons to Nadal, who has mentored him and advised fans not to pressure the young star with comparisons.
Alcaraz’s rise began in Madrid in 2022, where he defeated both Nadal and Djokovic in the same clay-court event. His first ATP title came at 18 in Umag in 2021, similar to Nadal’s early success. With sponsors like Nike and Rolex backing him, Alcaraz has already earned $35 million in his career.
Nick Kyrgios believes that if Alcaraz stays healthy, he will be one of the greatest players ever. “Who’s going to stop him?” Kyrgios said.
