Carlos Alcaraz becomes second-youngest player to reach top five, but vows ‘I will keep going to be No 1’

ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz fist pump

He didn’t walk away with the Hamburg European Open trophy, but Carlos Alcaraz still had plenty to celebrate as he reached a new career-high in the ATP Rankings.

Alcaraz finished runner-up to Lorenzo Musetti in the ATP 500 event on Sunday, going down 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 against the Italian.

However, his run to the final meant he was guaranteed to rise to No 5 in the world before a ball was even hit and he is the second-youngest player to reach the milestone.

Aged 19 years, two months and 20 days, he is behind fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who was 18y, 11m, 6d when he cracked the top five in May 2005.

Top Five Youngest Players To Reach Top Five In ATP Rankings Since 2000

Rafael Nadal – 9 May 2005 – 18y, 11m, 6d
Carlos Alcaraz – 25 July 2022 – 19y, 2m, 20d
Novak Djokovic – 30 April 2007 – 19y, 11m, 8d
Lleyton Hewitt – 25 June 2001 – 20y, 4m, 1d
Alexander Zverev – 11 September 2017 – 20y, 4m, 22d

“It means a lot, as I work hard every day. Top 5 is pretty amazing and I will keep going to reach my dream, becoming world No 1,” Alcaraz said.

“It is an amazing city with amazing people, I enjoyed every single second here,” he told the Hamburg crowd. “See you soon!”

Alcaraz started the 2021 season outside the top 100, but won the Umag Open and also reached the quarter-final of the US Open to surge into the top 40.

His meteoric rise has continued in 2022 as he has won four titles – including two ATP Masters 1000 events – to move into the top 10 with his appearance in the Hamburg final helping him to fifth place.

Up next is the defence of his title in Croatia.

“Of course Umag is a special tournament for me. I got my first title there, so I’m defending the title this year,” he said. “But I’m going to try to play my best and of course take lessons from here.”

Carlos Alcaraz

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