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The 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has been working hard on his comeback, hoping to kick off the 2023 season injury-free. Carlos is spending his 11th week as world no. 1, taking the ATP throne following his first Major crown at the US Open.
Thus, the young Spaniard became the 20th player to achieve that since 1973, standing one week behind a six-time Major winner Boris Becker. Alcaraz should keep the no. 1 spot at least until February or March with a solid Australian Open run.
He looks good to pass Mats Wilander and put himself in a position to chase Ilie Nastase and other players with 40 or more weeks on the ATP throne. The youngster made impressive progress through the list in the past three years.
He kicked off the 2022 season from just outside the top-30 and hoped to finish it in the top-15. Instead, by September, Alcaraz became the world's best player, celebrating his first Major title in New York and writing history books.
The Spaniard suffered a tight loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open before conquering his first ATP 500 crown in Rio de Janeiro as the youngest winner on that level since 2009.
Carlos Alcaraz is the 20th player with 11 No.
1 weeks.
The young gun pushed Rafael Nadal to the limits in the Indian Wells semi-final before losing after over three hours. Carlos made further steps in Miami, heading all the way and becoming the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal!
Alcaraz did not have to wait to lift another notable trophy, conquering Barcelona at the end of April for back-to-back ATP 500 titles. He cracked the top-10 with those points and joined the elite group of players who achieved that before turning 19.
Not stopping there, the youngster lifted another Masters 1000 shield in front of the home fans in Madrid after beating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev within three days! Carlos became the world no. 1 contender and added more valuable points with the Roland Garros quarter-final.
Alcaraz lost back-to-back ATP finals on clay in July and came to the US Open as world no. 4. He saved a match point in the quarter-final thriller against Jannik Sinner to extend his journey. Carlos overpowered Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final and advanced to his first Major final.
Alcaraz fought for the ATP throne and a Major title against Casper Ruud and scored a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory in three hours and 20 minutes. After this incredible success, the Spaniard slowed down a bit, resting his body and hoping for a good run in Basel and Paris.
Carlos lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Basel semi-final and reached the quarter-final in Paris. He injured his left abdominal wall against his coeval Holger Rune, retiring in the second set's closing stages and heading back home to Spain.
After further checks, Alcaraz revealed an abdominal muscle injury that sidelined the youngest world no. 1 from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals.