Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest men's top 10 tennis player since Rafael Nadal

The Spaniard had become world number nine after clinching the Barcelona Open. After bagging his fourth ATP title, Alcaraz executed the same task nine days before his 19th birthday. Nadal was a month younger when he made his debut in April 2005. The young star won his recent ATP title on Monday by defeating eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2 in the final. 

Alcaraz charges into the top 10.

Alcaraz won the event just hours after a tiring semi-final match was postponed because of the rain. At 18 years, 11 months and 20 days, Alcaraz is additionally the ninth-youngest man to break into the men's top 10 since the rankings started in 1973. The youngest man to reach the ATP top 10 was Aaron Krickstein, who was 17 years old when he debuted in August 1984. Alcaraz is currently tied with Nadal for the most ATP Tour titles in 2022 with three and feels even more motivated after his impressive run in Barcelona.

"I did not think I would reach this stage at 18 years old. It is for the first time for me in the top 10. It means a lot," said the 18-year-old at a conference of a junior event. "For me, it's a dream come true. I have been fighting for this since I was a child. I work every day, work hard to be here to have a chance to get titles to beat the top players in the world, but not at this age. It is just a coincidence that it's the same with Rafa. I just focus on my game."

Alcaraz is hoping to play the last rounds in Roland Garros.

Alcaraz currently has four singles titles to his credit after wins in Miami and Rio de Janeiro this year, besides another record victory at Umag last July. He became the youngest tour-level champion since Kei Nishikori's victory at Delray Beach in 2008. The young Spaniard now is one of the favourites for next month's French Open behind the King of Clay. 

"I am playing well, with a lot of confidence in myself. I will have chances to get results in Roland Garros, to be in the last rounds," he said at the IMG Future Stars Under-12 tournament' said the Spanish star. "I reached my goal to be [in the] top 10. I want to keep growing as a player, improving every day, trying to keep claiming titles, trying to climb up the rankings."

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has retained the number one spot after becoming a finalist in the Serbia Open. Daniil Medvedev occupies the second position, followed by Alexander Zverev in third and Nadal in fourth. The women's side witnessed Paula Badosa's ascent to a career-high second place, after world number one Iga Świątek. Badosa overtook the 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejčíková, who currently sits third.